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Tasmanians Wear It Well

News and Events / News

Your clothes have a story. Let’s make it a longer one.

Every year, Australian’s buy more clothing than any other country in the world. On average purchasing 56 new garments per person each year.

For many, those items will only be worn a handful of times before being forgotten, discarded, or replaced.

Every item of clothing requires raw materials, energy, water, transport, and human labour to produce.

When we buy more than we need and throw clothes away too soon, the impact is felt by communities and environments around the world.

Globally, less than 1% of clothing material is recycled into new clothing. Instead, landfills are filling up as Australian’s throw away 200,000 tonnes of clothing every year.

By choosing to buy less, buy second-hand, care and repair our clothes and donate as if we were giving to a friend, we can keep valuable materials out of landfill and in use for longer time.

Here in Tasmania, every choice matters.

The Fashion Problem

Over the last two decades, clothing production has almost doubled globally while the amount of time we wear our clothes has declined dramatically. Fast fashion has made clothing cheaper and more accessible than ever, but it has also encouraged a culture of buying more and wearing less.

In Australia:

  • More than 1.4 billion new garments enter the Australian market each year.
  • More than 200,000 tonnes of clothing is sent to Australian landfills annually with a further 105,000 tonnes exported overseas.
  • The average garment is worn as little as seven times before being discarded.
  • Only about 5% of Australia’s textile waste is recycled.
  • Studies suggest up to 95% of textiles sent to landfill could potentially be reused or recycled.

These figures show just how important it is to rethink our relationship with clothing.

Come have a chat!

In partnership with Libraries Tasmania, you can find us popping up across the state inspiring you to take action. Our pop‑up activations showcase practical, everyday ways for clothing care, repair and reuse and inspire you to reject fast fashion and buy second-hand. Find us at the following locations:

Southern Tasmania

Rosny Library | Monday, September 1 | 10:30 – 12:30pm

Sorell Library | Friday, September 4 | 10:30 – 12:30pm

Hobart Library | Saturday, September 5 | 10:30 – 12:30pm

Kingston Library | Monday, September 7 | 10:30 – 12:30pm

Glenorchy Library | Monday, September 7 | 3:30 – 5:30pm

Northern Tasmania

Launceston Library | Tuesday, September 8 | 10:30 – 12:00pm

Kinamathatakinta/George Town Library | Wednesday, September 9 | 11:00 – 12:30

Scottsdale Library | Thursday, September 24 | 11:00 – 1:00pm

Want to go deeper? Join us for a workshop at the George Town Neighbourhood House Thursday September 10 at 10:30.

What is Wear It Well?

Wear It Well is a community education campaign from ReThink Waste Tasmania that encourages Tasmanians to make the most of the clothes they already own and support a more circular approach to fashion.

Wear It Well celebrates practical actions that anyone can take to reduce textile waste and extend the life of clothing. The campaign encourages Tasmanians to:

Shop Second-Hand

The most interesting outfits often contain second-hand pieces. Discover unique finds, save money and support local op shops before buying new.

Buy Better, Buy Less

Before buying ask, will I wear this 30 times? Consider quality over quantity and make purchases that will last.

Care For and Repair Your Clothes

Simple repairs and garment care can significantly extend the life of your clothes. Connect with local community groups and learn new sewing skills.

Donate Responsibly

Before donating, ask yourself: Would I give this to a friend?Only donate items that are clean, wearable and in good condition.

Reuse and Recycle

When clothing can no longer be worn, what else can we do? Explore options for rags, creative reuse and textile recycling programs. When our textiles no longer have life in them, they belong in the landfill (red) bin.

How You Can Get Involved