Every year 12 million Christmas jumpers are sold in the UK
Supporting our ethical partner,Transform Trade
They can be fun, seasonal gifts for family, and bring festive cheer to Christmas parties. But most of these jumpers are only worn a handful of times (if they're lucky). And there’s something UK fashion brands fail to mention...
Discussions around waste at Christmas often focus on the wrapping paper, because it is usually single use; every Christmas in the UK we use enough to stretch to the moon.
But often we treat clothing, like Christmas jumpers, as equally disposable – flinging them straight into the textiles recycling bin. Or they will join the 350,000 tonnes of wearable clothing already going to landfill every year in the UK.
Worse still, 95% of Christmas jumpers are partially or wholly made of plastic. Polyester can take up to 200 years to degrade - so that jumper will probably last longer than you will.
Global clothing production for UK brands is incredibly exploitative and wasteful, and Christmas jumpers are just one small part of that. But thankfully environmental destruction is far from your only option for gifting this year. Our charity partner Transform Trade has an alternative... something to make things better.
It's a gift that transforms the fashion industry by helping some of the worst paid and worst treated people who make our clothes. This gift card supports homeworkers fighting for formal recognition to access the workers' rights they deserve - so they can support their families and are protected in the case of ill health.
This is just one example of what charity gifts can do - it's about seeing a flawed system and doing something better.
You can browse the full range here – our This Gift is Not Socks card is perfect for those difficult-to-buy-for family members. If you are looking for more traditional Christmas cards to send to your loved ones, Transform Trade’s charity cards are just the ticket.
Many Christmas jumpers on the racks this year will have been made in part by homeworkers. These homeworkers stitch, embroider and pack clothes from their homes or small workshops and are paid by the piece – all without basic health and safety, often long into old age. If you want to find out more about the homeworkers who make your clothes, take a look at Transform Trade’s Unseen Appeal.
This is just one example of what charity gifts can do - it's about seeing a flawed system and doing something better. Our friends at Gavin's Mill also have a great selection of ethical alternative Christmas presents through their Gavin's Mill Gifts. These also make a big difference in the lives of producers in the global south.
