Overproduction Machine
The process of extracting raw materials, producing garments, and disposing of them in landfills or incineration after minimal use
What is the linear model?
The process of fixing garments to extend their lifespan
What is repair?
The process of breaking down textiles into raw materials
What is recycling?
Where most textile waste ends up
What is landfill?
Programs where brands collect used garments
What are take-back programs?
The phase where consumers wear, wash, and maintain garments
What is the use phase?
The type of circular strategy repair represents
What is a slow loop?
Recycling method that physically shreds fabrics
What is mechanical recycling?
Gas released through decomposing natural fibers in landfills
What is methane?
The misconception that donating clothes always prevents waste
What is the myth of donation?
Systems designed to keep products and materials in use for as long as possible
What is circular fashion?
The main economic barrier to repair adoption
What is labor cost exceeding garment value?
Recycling method that uses chemicals to dissolve fibers
What is chemical recycling?
Environmental issue caused by synthetic fibers breaking down
What are microplastics?
The core issue that repair, recycling, and upcycling do not solve
What is overproduction?
The stage that includes either resale, recycling, or landfill
What is disposal or recovery?
The main reason upcycling is difficult to scale
What is inconsistent material supply and labor intensity?
The biggest technical barrier to textile recycling
What are blended fabrics?
Regions most impacted by exported textile waste
What is the Global South?
When brands exaggerate sustainability efforts
What is greenwashing?
Occurs when brands promote circular initiatives like recycling or take-back programs while continuing to increase production volume
What is the circularity vs. overproduction paradox?
This design failure prevents repair and reuse at scale by making garments difficult to disassemble, alter, or restore
What is lack of design for durability and disassembly?
What recycling often becomes due to fiber degradation
What is downcycling?
Why landfills persist and grow despite sustainability efforts
What is overproduction and lack of recycling infrastructure?
The gap between sustainability messaging and actual outcomes
What is the circularity vs reality gap?