Globally clothing and textile waste is an enormous problem, alone the USA is reported to send 13 million tons of textile waste, 80% is clothing waste, to landfill each year. In 2015 the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reported that 73% of the world's clothing was sent to incarceration or landfill. Boro.ed, deriving from the Japanese term Boro meaning worn(out) referring to the born-out-of-necessity patchwork technique used by lower-income communities during Japan's Edo period, is an educational mending platform and community. Consumers can learn about different mending techniques and how to utilise them to refurbish and refashion what would be their clothing waste. Humanities stories are woven into clothes, Boro.ed helps consumers change their story from one of waste and overconsumption to one of preservation and repair. Boro.ed is the antidote to the fast and wasteful fashion industry.
Instagram caption reads: Refurbishing fashion with Boro.ed. Boro.ed sent me this pocket sewing kit and the challenge to create a new item I'll love from an old item I've loved. Learn how to create yours at Boro.ed.com.
(Image is sourced from Maria Maleh, @mariapizzeria on Instagram. The image has been edited to add Boro.ed sewing kit).
