Clothing discounter Primark has launched its first circular collection. This is a range of products developed with an end-of-life-cycle in mind, when the items can be repaired, resold or recycled into new clothing or new materials.
The range has been developed around Primark’s new circular product standard, based on principles set out by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The new collection will be available from mid-April; further collections are planned in the course of the year.
“This collection is the result of years of work on a new framework designed to empower our product teams and suppliers to create circular products designed with the end user in mind,” comments Nicholas Lambert, head of the department for circular products at Primark, in a press release.
The 35-piece collection includes men’s, women’s and children’s fashion in “everybody’s favorite shapes, designs and colors that you can combine with your favorite wardrobe items,” according to the press release. Prices range from 5 to 25 euros (4 to 20 British pounds).
Part of the spring/summer collection are wide-leg jeans, denim overshirts and t-shirts, all in a relaxed fit. When manufacturing all parts, attention was paid to durability, recyclability and more sustainable materials.
Primark’s circular collection is based on three approaches
The garments are made from at least 95 percent cotton sourced from Primark’s sustainable cotton program, which trains cotton growers to use less water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The remaining 5 percent consists of trimmings, embellishments or buttons, which Primark says have been designed to be removable or recyclable where possible.
The collection has been tested for increased durability according to Primark’s new washing standard, which means that all denim items have undergone 30 washes and all jersey items have undergone 56 washes.
At the end of a product’s life, customers can drop it off at their local drop-off point, which can currently be found in all 190 UK Primark stores and 73 stores in Ireland, Germany and Austria.
Primark’s Circular Product Standard, which can be found on the company’s website, was developed in collaboration with think tank Circle Economy and sustainability non-profit organization Sustainable Fashion Academy. It is based on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s vision for a more circular economy in the fashion industry and was developed in consultation with climate protection NGO Wrap.
“To get to grips with our current linear fashion industry – ‘take, make, waste’ – we need to move towards a circular economy for fashion, where clothes are used more, made for reuse and made from safe and recycled or renewable raw materials . By participating in the jeans redesign project and developing the ‘Circular Product Standard’, Primark is taking a step forward towards a long-term circular economy. Now there is a clear path and need to move action forward, quickly and at scale,” said Jules Lennon, Head of Fashion at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The launch of Primark’s first circular collection follows a circular product standard pilot last year, in which the company trained an initial group of designers, buyers and suppliers on circular design.
“Learning how to design with a truly circular vision was eye-opening. I have been involved in the design pilot for the last year and I am very happy that the products are finally in stores and our customers can enjoy them. The great thing about this range is that these are essential pieces that can be mixed and matched with other garments over and over again. I’m looking forward to the next collection we put together,” explains Laura Leahy, Assistant Buyer, Womenswear.
The next step is to expand the training to more than 500 members of Primark product teams and other selected suppliers later this year. Further circular collections are planned over the course of the year.