If it’s broken, they fix it: four fashion brands that give their garments a second life

With fashion facing pressure to take responsibility for the full life cycle of their collections, labels are incorporating repair and resale programs into their business models. Photograph: Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography/Getty Images

Earlier this month the Australian Fashion Council, in partnership with several organisations and government agencies, announced the final stage of its scheme to reduce the 200,000 tonnes of clothing waste sent to landfill every year in Australia.

The Seamless scheme imposes a four-cent levy on each garment produced by fashion businesses, which will fund research into sustainability for the industry and establish the infrastructure for textile recycling. While the scheme is voluntary – the federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has flagged the industry may face regulation in 12 months’ time – it encourages fashion businesses to embrace circularity and take responsibility for the full life cycle of a garment by making rental, resale and repair available for consumers.