Keeping clothes in use for longer: the ideas behind circular fashion, and their limits.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 15 November 2026
What is circular fashion?
The opposite of “take, make, throw away”. In a circular system, clothes are designed to last, kept in use for as long as possible through repair, resale and rental, and then turned back into new materials. The idea was popularised for fashion by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in the late 2010s.
Is repair coming back?
Yes. Patagonia’s Worn Wear programme has repaired gear for years, and many luxury houses now offer aftercare for bags and shoes. Tailors, cobblers and visible mending are having a revival, and France introduced a repair bonus that discounts clothing and shoe repairs at approved menders. Repair is the simplest way to extend a garment’s life.
How do rental and resale fit in?
Rental, led by Rent the Runway in the US since 2009, suits clothes you wear once, like wedding and party outfits. Resale is far bigger: Vinted, Depop, Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal have made buying second-hand normal, and luxury resale is one of the fastest-growing parts of fashion. Many brands now run their own resale or take-back schemes.
Does it actually help?
Only if it replaces new buying. If people sell clothes to fund more shopping, or rentals are shipped and dry-cleaned constantly, the benefit shrinks. The circular wardrobe works best as a habit: buy fewer new things, choose pieces with resale value, look after them, and pass them on. Read our guide to slow fashion.
Read on Ayerhs: The Resale Boom, Explained · The Benefits of Shopping Secondhand and Vintage · How to Rewear Like a Fashion Insider