The fashion industry has a huge waste problem. It is about time to clean up this crisis! To transition from a linear to a circular economy, we must understand the size of the waste problem. Estimates of how much clothing is made annually vary from 80 to 150 billion. It is time to get clarity about how many garments the industry really makes! That’s why the Dutch Sustainable Fashion Circle has started a campaign called ‘Fashion Statement Now’.

What is the ‘Fashion Statement Now’ campaign?

‘Fashion Statement Now’ asks brands to share their production numbers. Current data on production numbers is based on estimates. It varies widely, with a difference of 46% in the total production volume. If brands start sharing their numbers with the ‘Fashion Statement Now’ campaign, the impact of fashion can be better understood. With better data, more effective plans and laws can be set up to make the fashion industry more sustainable. In addition, it encourages companies to think more consciously about the amount they produce.

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What is Kuyichi's production volume?

We are proud to be part of this campaign and help steer the industry in the right direction. We gladly share our production figures with the public. In 2023, we produced 89,133 items, more than half of which were jeans. These are all our production orders, excluding samples we made during the production process. We sell these samples during our sample sale to give each item the life it deserves.

How does Kuyichi battle waste?

At Kuyichi, we keep products available until the stock sells out. Our clothing is timeless and goes beyond trends. We believe a garment does not lose value when seasons change. That is why we do not participate in seasonal sales. This goes against the current fashion system, which focuses on new, fast and cheap. Every year, about 3% of our production volume goes to a buyer who sells the items in other countries. We also battle waste in our supply chain by using recycled fibres, even from our own cutting waste.

Why is transparency about production volume so important?

Transparency is the first step towards a future-proof fashion industry for people and the planet. Many brands express big ambitions such as carbon neutrality and circularity, but production volumes are often considered taboo. We need to know the scale of the problem to tackle it properly. Just as the Fashion Revolution pushed the industry to open up about where we produce, brands must now be open about how much they produce!

" In 2023, we produced 89,133 items, more than half of which were jeans."

Why is Kuyichi participating in ‘Fashion Statement Now’?

Being transparent has always been a core value of Kuyichi. We try to give you a glimpse behind the scenes of clothing production. We want you to know what you buy and where it comes from. You can only make a genuinely conscious choice if you have all the necessary information. Can’t find the answer to your question on our site or in the reports? You can always send us an email, and we will be happy to tell you more. You can help too. Call on your favorite clothing brand to share their production numbers too!