The Truth About Textile Waste & How You Can Reduce It Through Conscious Making and Mindful Fashion Choices
Fashion is overflowing with excess. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste end up in landfills, with fast fashion and overproduction fuelling the crisis. But there’s hope— with makers like you, changing that story.
At Templiq, we see sewing as an act of empowerment—one that slows down consumption, reduces waste, and creates timeless garments that last. This guide dives into the truth about textile and fashion waste, and how you—through sustainable sewing and intentional choices—can make a real difference.
What Is Textile Waste?
Textile waste includes any discarded clothing, fabric, thread, and offcuts. It falls into two categories:
Pre-consumer waste: scraps, misprints, and fabric leftovers from manufacturing.
Post-consumer waste: garments that are worn out, discarded, or out of style.
Globally, the average consumer throws away over 30 kg of clothing each year, most of which is not biodegradable and ends up incinerated or dumped in landfills.
Why the Fashion Industry Has a Waste Problem
Fast Fashion Overproduction
Brands release hundreds of new styles weekly, mass-producing garments with cheap, synthetic fibres and blended fibres that are nearly impossible to recycle.Low-Quality Materials
Polyester, the most commonly used fabric worldwide, is made from fossil fuels and takes 200+ years to break down.Design for Obsolescence
Many garments are intentionally made to last only a short time—through poor construction or hyper-trendy styling.Global Disposal Crisis
Only 1% of all clothing is recycled into new garments. The rest is exported as secondhand clothing, burned, or sent to landfill.
How Home Sewing Can Help Reduce Textile Waste
Sewing your own clothes gives you power—creative, financial, and environmental.
Here’s how making your own garments changes the system:
1. Intentional Making Over Mindless Buying
When you take the time to sew, you naturally create more thoughtfully. You:
Choose quality fabrics
Design with your lifestyle in mind
Value longevity over short-term trends
Patterns like the Wabi Sabi Top encourage mindful creation, using architectural, modular cutting to minimize waste, upcycling materials while producing a timeless, versatile garment.
2. Zero-Waste and Minimal-Seam Designs
At Templiq, our patterns are designed to eliminate waste at the cutting stage. The Traveller’s Jumpsuit and the origami Coat use a minimal-seam design that simplifies construction, reduces and reuses offcuts to maximise fabric use, while giving you an adaptable style you can wear for years.
3. Custom Fit = Longer Wear
Garments that fit well are worn longer. Sewing allows you to adjust pieces to your exact shape. The Wabi Sabi Top , for example, is drafted with a simple modular silhouette that layers easily, and adapts with other styles your wardrobe, hack the pattern to add or change the garment type giving you a pattern that will last for years.
4. Use of Deadstock and Recycled Fabrics
Many makers source fabrics from local remnant stores, thrift shops, or recycling programs—keeping perfectly usable materials out of landfill. Try upcycling to make you own unique style like our Origami Coat, that was made from upcycling men’s denim jeans discard on the street.
10 Ways to Reduce Waste When Making Clothes
Use zero-waste or minimal-seam patterns (like the Wabi Sabi Top).
Plan your makes with a capsule wardrobe or “make nine” approach.
Measure twice, cut once—accurate prep saves fabric.
Save and reuse scraps for trims, quilting, or patchwork.
Choose timeless styles over trends.
Make a muslin first to test fit.
Repurpose old garments into new pieces (like the Wabi Sabi top or the Origami Coat
Prioritize natural, compostable fabrics (linen, cotton, hemp, wool).
Maintain your tools and machines to avoid wasteful errors.
Share or swap fabric with other makers.
What to Consider Before Purchasing New Clothes
Not everyone sews everything they wear—and that’s okay. The key is to shop with intention.
Ask “Will I wear this 30 times?” If not, skip it.
Check the label for natural fibres, local production, and certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX.
Support transparent brands that disclose sourcing and working conditions.
Avoid mixed fibres that are difficult to recycle.
Think end of life—can it be composted, resold, or repurposed? Try our Tomorrow series that is designed for disassembly, the garment is made with one piece of fabric and fitting dart, so that it can be unpicked and re assembled into a new style/ garment
Choose versatile pieces that layer and last.
Embracing a Circular Wardrobe
A circular wardrobe isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a practice of keeping garments in use for as long as possible.
Make, wear, repair – Fix seams, replace buttons, and keep garments alive.
Swap or trade – Refresh your closet without buying new.
Repurpose worn items into rags, quilts, or accessories.
Compost natural garments when they’ve reached the end of their life.
Patterns like the Origami Coat are perfect for this philosophy—its clean, timeless cut keeps it relevant season after season.
How Templiq Helps You Sew More Sustainably
At Templiq, we design digital sewing patterns for conscious makers. Our approach combines style, functionality, and sustainability through:
Minimal-seam techniques that reduce fabric waste
Timeless silhouettes like the Traveller’s Jumpsuit, Wabi Sabi Top, and Draped T shirt
Educational resources on fabrics, garment care, and repair
A creative community for sharing, swapping, and inspiring
Final Thoughts: You Hold the Thread
Reducing textile waste isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Whether you’re building a capsule wardrobe, repurposing old garments, or sewing with minimal-waste patterns, every step matters.
At Templiq, we believe sewing is an act of empowerment. With each stitch, you’re contributing to a future where fashion doesn’t cost the earth.
