You've probably heard about degrowth, which is: "a planned reduction of energy and resource use designed to bring the economy back into balance with the living world in a way that reduces inequality and improves human well-being." Is it time to apply such thinking more specifically to the fashion industry? What would that look like?

This Ep presents the ideas of a new fashion activist organisation called Fashion Act Now (FAN), born out of Extinction Rebellion. They are calling for "a radical defashion future" - their interpretation of: "the role fashion must play in degrowth. It is a transition to post-fashion clothing systems that are regenerative, local, fair, nurturing and sufficient for the needs of communities."

They argue that the current system - which they call Fashion with a capital 'F' - is not only environmentally unsustainable because it's addicted to overproduction, but, in its current form, morally bankrupt being built on oppression.

More than half of all the textiles use today are polyester. You will definitely have poly in your wardrobe, even if you prefer natural fibres. Synthetics are lurking everywhere, whether as polyester, nylon, or blends mixed with cotton. Poly is cheap, ubiquitous and it's not going away any time soon. It's also made from fossil fuels, doesn't biodegrade and most of it ends up as waste. This week’s guest Cyndi Rhoades from Worn Again explains the challenges, opportunities and processes behind textile-to-textile recycling.

There is no away. Are you unwittingly contributing to waste colonialism? What happens to our unwanted clothes when we donate them? Each week, around 15 million pieces of secondhand clothing arrive in the Kantamanto second-hand clothing market in Accra, Ghana - and 40% goes to waste.

Will Storr on status, its pursuit and how it shapes us. Are you a special person? How self-obsessed are we, as a society? How and why do we compare ourselves to others? What makes us group-ish? Violent? Or community minded? How about narcissistic? And is that getting worse?

Fashion weeks are about to roar back with a vengeance, although the pandemic and climate change are still with us. In 2021, the fashion industry seems determined to get back to business as usual. This week's guest, London-based Kenyan fashion designer Anyango Mpinga has other ideas. Digital presentations could change the game, she says, but that's just one piece of the puzzle - Fashion must find it's heart again.

In this inspiring conversation, Anyango talks purpose, service and giving back - and how, in Anyango's case, coming from a family of strong African women shaped her. The designer shares her advice for independents trying to be as sustainable as possible, and the broader industry that needs to do better on diversity and inclusion.

Have you heard the one about throwing your clothes away being better for the planet than renting them? In this Episode, we get the real story on the study out of Finland that spawned so many clickbait headlines, then ask a British retail legend about what's driving the fashion rental boom. We hear from a purpose-driven millennial founder about what her company is doing to ensure rental really is a greener fashion option than buying new clothes; and learn the secrets of eco-friendly dry cleaning.

A positive knitwear designer from Canada who’s ongoing collaboration with Post Carbon lab sees her creating living garments that photosynthesise as you wear them. A British fashion multi-tasker who works as a sustainable womenswear designer focused on deadstock materials, a freelance writer, model and stylist. And a community-driven womenswear designer from Brazil who is wowing with his artful, high-craft textile treatments - and challenging fashion’s obsession with youth while he’s at it. Meet Olivia Rubens, Joshua James Small and Joao Maraschin.

Wardrobe Crisis talks to Lyn Slater - academic, professor of social welfare, and the New York fashion influencer behind the Accidental Icon blog. Since she began blogging in 2014, she’s become a poster woman for growing older stylishly. But now, she’s examining further what it means to be old, and what we, as a society, think about that word - from old people to old houses to old things.

What if we woke up tomorrow and no longer had the desire to shop? What if we reduced our consumer spending across goods, services, products by 25% across the board?

Aminata Conteh-Biger is an UNHCR ambassador, author, speaker and the founder of Aminata Maternal Foundation. In 1999, during the civil war in Sierra Leone, the then 18-year-old Aminata was a kidnapped from her home in Freetown by rebel soldiers. She was held captive for several months, and finally freed as part of a negotiated prisoner exchange. When she fled to Australia, with UNHCR’s assistance, she had no idea what it would be like. She arrived here with nothing and to had to start again.