Creating clothing responsibly is an important first step, but equally – if not more – meaningful is taking responsibility for garments throughout their entire lifecycle. This involves proper care, repair, and ensuring items are reused or rehomed when they are no longer wanted. In the UK, an estimated 711,000 tonnes of used textiles are discarded into household waste annually, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). TOAST Circle plays a crucial role in reducing this waste and giving previously-loved pieces a second lease of life.
While TOAST garments are designed to last, we believe in extending their lifespan by inviting our community to donate past-collection pieces. Whether an item has been cherished for years and shows signs of wear, or remains in pristine condition after little use, all TOAST clothing is gratefully accepted. Donated garments find new homes or are repurposed within our Circle pathways.
As we welcome a new year, we hope to foster a culture of reuse and circularity. To inspire ongoing progress in 2025, we brought together three members of our community to share their experiences with clothing that’s been loved and passed on. Polly, Joanna, and Natalija have each donated previously-loved TOAST pieces – some they once wore with pride and others that had lingered unworn for too long. In every instance, the clothing holds memories while leaving space for more to be made.
Polly lives and works in London. As the editor-at-large of a children’s publishing house, Magic Cat, she spends her days immersed in beautiful, highly-illustrated children's books. Each evening, she comes home to a cosy flat, where limited storage means every item brought in should ideally serve a purpose and see regular use. “Some of the hardest-working pieces in my wardrobe are from TOAST,” she says. “Most were bought online, some were gifts, and others I bought secondhand .” Naturally, certain items are reached for more often than others, but Polly is invested in where these lesser-worn pieces end up once she lets them go. “TOAST garments are durable and of excellent quality, so I would much rather they find homes with people who will enjoy them.”
Polly chose to donate a number of pieces as a pre-Christmas gesture, acknowledging the overconsumption associated with the festivities and the financial disparities that shape people’s experiences during this time. “It’s a season of mass consumption, and I hoped that by donating ahead of the festive period, people could buy items at a reduced cost,” she explains. “Some of my donations didn’t work with my style, but they’re so beautifully made with incredibly soft and tactile fabrics. They deserve to be gifted or worn for a special occasion.”
Two of Polly’s donated pieces, a jumpsuit and a sweater, needed small repairs, which were completed by our in-house Repair specialists before continuing on their journeys. Others, including a linen jumpsuit, still had plenty of life in them after years of use. “I remember buying it because the woman on the website looked so carefree wearing it and I thought, ‘I want to feel like that!’ she laughs. After wearing it “everywhere,” Polly decided it was time to create space for essential pieces her wardrobe was lacking. “I hope whoever ends up with it finds new ways to style and create memories in it. Most of all, I hope that when it is ready to move on, it gets donated once more and added back into circulation.”
Joanna has also embraced a mindful approach by donating. Originally from Poland, she has lived in Cornwall for the past nine years and now manages the award-winning Harbour Gallery in the fishing village of Portscatho. She discovered TOAST shortly after moving to the UK, and many pieces in her wardrobe have been with her for years. After experiencing significant weight loss, the fit of a few of her garments changed. “Some things I still wear oversized,” she says.
“But others no longer feel or look right. While I have used tailors in the past, in this case I wanted to give them to someone who can wear them again as they are.”Joanna donated a velvet dress and two pairs of trousers. Despite a trip to the dry cleaners, the dress had a stubborn mark that wouldn’t come out, but after seeing our efforts to restore damaged items, she trusted that our team would find a solution. “I bought the velvet dress five years ago and wore it over many Christmases and to exhibition openings at the gallery,” she recalls. “I knew the dress could be rescued somehow, and if not suitable for resale, at least the beautiful fabric might be repurposed.”
Buying secondhand clothing is not only a valuable way to support the environment; it also offers the unique joy of wearing pieces rich with history and character. “These were purchased with an intention to dance tango in them,” Joanna says of the silk trousers she donated. “The black silk wide-leg seemed ideal, however, the abundance of fabric proved more inhibiting than helpful. As they are in perfect condition, I thought I would send them to TOAST in the hope you will find a new owner for them.”
Social worker Natalija donated pieces which have accompanied her through many chapters of her life. “We moved to Edinburgh from Lithuania in 2008. I came here to study, but sixteen years later, we've got kids and a permanent home.” Soon after having her first child, Natalija came across TOAST on Instagram. “I found this close-knit online community of people with shared values and I was instantly drawn to it,” she reflects. “The clothing captured exactly how I wanted to feel wearing clothes: content in my own skin.”
In the past, Natalija has traded items at TOAST Exchange swapping events, as well as passing pieces along to her sister-in-law. When she heard about the option to donate, she recognised it as the perfect path for a few pairs of trousers and a skirt she had worn consistently over the years but was now ready to part with. “I really enjoyed wearing the velvet trousers last Christmas to the theatre and other events. I always felt so luxurious,” she says. “Sadly, they no longer fit, so I wanted to pass them on to someone who would love wearing them as much as I did.”
Natalija recognises the enduring value of well-made clothing, even when marked or torn, and has participated in our repair workshops to learn skills such as sashiko stitching and darning. “These skills have helped create a sense of pride, encouraging me to hold onto pieces and take good care of them.” Sometimes, though, personal taste simply evolves and an item that once resonated may no longer feel right. “I used to wear the skirt with high-heeled boots in winter, but it didn’t suit my style anymore. I thought it should be treasured and shown off by someone else,” she says. “I’m trying to be a more conscious consumer, and it feels good to let go of things I no longer wear.”
Find out how to donate your TOAST pieces.
Words by Bébhinn Campbell.
Photography by Marco Kesseler.
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