Buy Less. Choose Well. Make it last.
Vivien Westwood, Fashion Designer
Why should we make garments last longer?
Back in the 1950s, people in western societies began to ‘have’ more than they’d had before.
Up until then, the art of mending, repairing and remodelling clothes was held dear.
But because of new ways of manufacturing, they could buy lots of new things that had once been out of their reach. Including clothes. They could stop mending and start throwing away.
In New Zealand today, 180,000 tonnes of unwanted clothes and textile goes to landfill each year.
But there is hope.
Florence Saves Clothes launched in 2024 to help Tāmaki Makaurai re-value and re-invent what’s already in the wardrobe.
Saved by Florence stitch-in bill of health for all garments we work on
We use a lot of rag trade knowledge and a large dash of flair to transform the garments you're not wearing. We make keeping clothes alive longer easier for you by coming to your home, event or workplace. Click to learn why!
Fancy getting creative with clothes together?
Benefits of saving your clothes
A little natural bling on a saved and upcycled Karen Walker party dress
thousand tonnes
At least 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste are discarded in NZ each year
new garments
The average New Zealander consumes more than 50 items of clothing a year.
carbon emissions
Clothing and textile waste is responsible for 4% of carbon emissions in New Zealand.
personal waste
The average New Zealander throws away at least 13kg of clothing and textles each year.
