Re-cycling Kids Clothes to Reduce Overconsumption - Jad Robitaille

Reseed

This is a story of children’s clothing, textiles, time passing, and the valiant confrontation of overconsumption. While it would be easier to buy cheap and new - and for those cute disposable clothes to end up in relentlessly growing landfills that our planet cannot sustain - there is a quiet, under-recognized network of women who care for and re-cycle children’s clothes. They lovingly organize, clean, fold, box, label, and share children’s clothes with their sisters and friends at the vulnerable time of new motherhood, while asking big questions about consumption and systems. This is a story of circular kids fashion.

Reseed host Alice Irene Whittaker is joined by Jad Robitaille, the Founder and Owner of Mini-Cycle, and the mother of two daughters. She has decided to centre her life on combating fast fashion while also cultivating balance in her own life. Jad discusses how she is rescuing and re-cycling clothing as many times as possible, lowering the impact on the environment while working to make circular kids fashion more affordable and accessible.

Jad and Alice Irene tackle several questions. What language resonates more with citizens - circular economy or zero waste? How can we carefully avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing? How can motherhood shape life, career, and the choices we make? What are the demands and freedoms of owning your own business and entrepreneurship, and what are the innovative business models that can make the big shifts we require? How can we avoid perfectionism and unrealistic expectations in the zero waste movement?

Cycling our garments over and over is a powerful way to reduce impact on the natural world, in so many ways. This interconnects with greenhouse gas emissions, materials, water, biodiversity, and human hands involved in unethical labour. Natural fibres connect with reducing emissions, the end of the life of pieces, and human health. Wearing clothing often, caring for garments carefully, mending, swapping, and fostering secondhand purchasing are ways in which we can be better stewards of the materials and labour that go into creating our textiles. Through our choices about clothing, and by disrupting the fashion industry, we are caring not just for children of today but also future generations.

Read more at reseed.ca.