Circular future

Circular is the future. The article highlights the sheer amount of consumer goods that physically cannot be repaired. Even if we had the skills and tools, we can't open up the product to fix it (this is especially prevalent in white goods and electrical. One could argue that we already have enough stuff on this Earth and one of the main reasons we throw things away is because we can't or don't know how to repair them. This is where a circular system could help.

Building in longevity and repairability is the responsibility of the designer. It is at the design phase that we have the ability to implement longevity so it is our responsibility. Future fashion and clothing should be repairable, deconstruct-able and mendable.

"Make it circular or don’t make it at all"

(Van Der Laken 2023)

Maybe the role of the designer also be to educate, the consumer about circularity, how to correctly look after their belongings and how to repair them. Failing that the companies themselves should offer these services. Some companies have started to build in these initiatives but there is a long way to go.

Patagonia Care & Repair: including free educational tools around mending and product care as well as a post back services for repairs https://www.patagonia.com/repairs/

"Fundamentally, businesses are responsible to their resource base" (Elkington 2022)

https://worldoftopia.com/patagonia-yvon-chouinard-john-elkington/

Toast repair: free mending service https://www.toa.st/pages/toast-repair

Todd Oldham Maker Shop: No new designs since 1999, any new collections produced here are made from archive materials https://toddoldhammakershop.com/

Articles:

Elkington, J. (2022) “CAPITALISM CAN BE GOOD” Patagonia’s billionaire boss Yvon Chouinard gives company away – to planet Earth [online]. Available at: https://worldoftopia.com/patagonia-yvon-chouinard-john-elkington/ (Accessed: 22 September 2022).

Van Der Laken, R. (2023) "I want a repairable Toaster" [online]. Topia. Available at: https://worldoftopia.com/richard-van-der-laken-circular-design/ (Accessed: 27 January 2023).