Tackling Fashion Overconsumption: How Cloop's Social Entrepreneur Leads the Way

The world of fashion can be a tempting and alluring place, even for those who work to protect the environment. Take Tan Yin Ling, a conservation biology master's student, who found herself buying over a hundred new clothing pieces each year. Unaware of the environmental consequences, her dorm room was brimming with brand-new clothes. However, a wake-up call during a sustainability boot camp changed everything for her, leading her on a mission to tackle fashion waste and overconsumption.

Discovering the Environmental Impact

The sustainability boot camp opened Tan Yin Ling's eyes to the detrimental effects of apparel production on the environment. She learned that approximately 23 kilograms of greenhouse gases are generated for every kilogram of fabric produced. Moreover, it takes a staggering 7,500 liters of water to create just one pair of jeans, equivalent to the average person's water consumption for seven years! Shocked by these revelations, Tan Yin Ling knew she had to take action.

The Birth of Cloop

Inspired to make a difference, Tan Yin Ling initiated clothing swaps to encourage women with overflowing wardrobes to exchange items instead of purchasing new ones. Fuelled by her growing passion for sustainability, she continued organizing these swap events, even after landing a research role with a US environmental education start-up. Fate brought her together with another fashion enthusiast turned eco-conscious, Jasmine Tuan, and the duo decided to launch a social enterprise called Closing the Fashion Loop, or Cloop, in October 2020.

Circular Fashion for Sustainable Living

Cloop's core mission is to create a circular fashion system, where clothes and textiles are continually reused, repurposed, and recycled, reducing textile waste and minimizing environmental impact. The enterprise organizes clothing swaps and collaborates with charity organizations to donate clothes. Additionally, they conduct workshops and talks on sustainable fashion to generate revenue.

Making a Real Impact

Cloop's dedication to sustainable practices has already made a significant impact. Within the last year, their efforts have saved over 1.3 million kilograms of clothing from ending up in landfills. This achievement was possible thanks to their clothes swaps and a network of 335 yellow recycling bins scattered across Singapore. People can drop off unwanted clothes, textiles, shoes, and accessories in these bins, which Cloop's Malaysian recycling partner, Life Line Clothing, collects and sorts into more than 500 categories.

Promoting Responsible Recycling

Cloop ensures that every item finds its rightful destination. Wearable clothing is sold in second-hand markets worldwide, while unusable components are recycled into materials like playground flooring or rags for the car and oil industry. Even the remaining residue contributes to waste-to-energy plants, generating electricity instead of contributing to pollution.

Inspiring Change

Driving this incredible movement is Tan Yin Ling, who has undergone a transformative journey herself. From her university days of excessive shopping, she now boasts a wardrobe where approximately 90% of items are from clothing swaps. Her passion has resonated with others, with Cloop's pop-up fashion swaps attracting growing crowds. The enterprise aims to double Singapore's textile and leather recycling rate from 2% to 4%, thanks to their dedicated efforts.

Final Thoughts

Tan Yin Ling's journey from a fashion enthusiast to a sustainability champion showcases the power of awareness and action. Through Cloop, she's inspiring change, making sustainable fashion accessible, and showing us that each small step can have a significant impact. With more Singaporeans embracing sustainable practices, Cloop is leading the way towards a greener and more responsible fashion industry.

Thank you for reading my post today as we celebrated the remarkable story of Cloop and its passionate co-founder, Tan Yin Ling. To stay updated on their journey and sustainable fashion tips, be sure to follow Cloop on their social media channels.

This is Themeremeg, signing off. Remember, each of us has the power to make a difference. Let's continue to tread lightly and work together for a more sustainable future. Until next time!

Source: The Straits Times