Through TOAST Circle, we take responsibility for our garments long after their initial purchase. We hope that every piece leaving us is worn, loved, and lived in for many seasons – that signs of wear become part of its story, not a reason for its disposal.
This commitment begins at the design stage, where practicality, durability, and timelessness are carefully considered before a garment is made. Beyond this, we have put in place initiatives that allow each piece to continue its journey, ensuring its story carries on even when damaged or passed from one wearer to the next. Often, a simple repair or a subtle adjustment is all that is needed to restore life to a well-worn garment.
Our donation programme is one of the ways we extend the lifespan of TOAST clothing; a piece that has become less central in one wardrobe may be warmly welcomed into another. This circular approach minimises waste, reaffirms the lasting value of our garments, and fosters a culture of reuse.
Here, we meet with three members of our community who have donated their previously loved TOAST garments. Molly, Nasheed and Sophie share their experiences choosing the circular path.
Molly Conisbee, based in Bath, has been a TOAST customer for over twenty years, and a consistent supporter of our Circle initiatives. She still remembers her first TOAST purchase: a black 1950s-style which she wore to a wedding. “I loved it. It was like something Audrey Hepburn would wear. It carried me through so many events.” Her wardrobe today still holds many pieces bought decades ago, a testament to their enduring quality and design.
Over the years, Molly has taken advantage of our free mending service, entrusting the Repair specialists at our Bath shop with items she wished to continue wearing, but which needed minor repairs. More recently, she donated three TOAST items from her wardrobe: a blue linen shift dress, a ruffle-collared shirt, and a printed skirt. Each piece holds memories, but Molly is comforted by the thought of someone else adding to their story. Her work as a bereavement counsellor and researcher has given her a unique appreciation for continuity and care; values she nurtures in a personal sense, too. “I love the idea of sharing – giving clothes another life. Passing things on feels good.”
Like Molly, writer and filmmaker Nasheed Qamar Faruqi has a meaningful relationship with our clothing. She discovered TOAST as a student in the nineties, but only began investing in pieces after having children. “Your body changes throughout your life, but especially when you have kids. I’ve had a few abdominal surgeries and I have found myself becoming more particular about what I wear. I want my clothes to be easy - gentle, durable and stylish - designed to stand the test of time in every way, and, most importantly, comfortable.” she says. “I’ve always cared about quality, but I feel more able to prioritise this in my shopping now. I’m also in horror of throwaway fashion.”
Growing up with relatives who lived through India’s Swaraj movement, a period focused on self-governance and political freedom, instilled an appreciation for provenance in Nasheed. “My grandmother's family wove their own cotton khadi at home,” she reflects. “I was definitely brought up to be very aware of where your clothes come from, who made them, the production line, and where the money you're spending goes.”
As someone who relies on TOAST for many wardrobe staples, Nasheed has honed quite an eye for our clothing. “I've spotted a couple of students around Cambridge wearing the Orla jumper,” she laughs. “It's great to see younger people buying things early in their lives that they're hopefully going to keep for a long time.” This enduring relationship with clothing is only made easier through mending. Nasheed often works with archival materials in her writing and films. Her relationship to remnant garments has shaped her experience of TOAST Repair. “I've had a couple of items mended, and they’ve come back even more wonderful than they were before. As artist Celia Pym highlights in her work, repair and reparation are such an important part of our stories (as individuals and societies) - what could be better than connecting with that need through what we wear?”
Sophie Buchaillard is a writer and poet, originally from Paris but now based in Cardiff. She happened upon TOAST at the Llandeilo literary festival, having strolled into the shop between readings, and was drawn to its Welsh roots and distinctive designs. Now, our clothing has become part of her personal and professional identity – a dependable companion for public events and book launches. “It's one rather rare example of a brand from Wales that has managed to become international, and I love showcasing the best of what Wales has to offer.”
Sophie regularly donates pieces she feels could be better used elsewhere. Before becoming a writer, she worked as an environmental campaigner, and she has long been attuned to the devastating impact of fast fashion on the planet. “Being able to buy clothes with the confidence that they’ve been made thoughtfully – and knowing that, if I no longer need a piece, I can return it and it will find a new life with someone else – really matters to me.”
As a storyteller, it’s no surprise that Sophie forms connections with her clothes. “It’s that sense of continuity,” she says, “the idea that garments carry stories with them as they're passed from one wearer to another, that I really love.”
Visit any TOAST Shop to donate your previously loved TOAST pieces. In celebration of reuse, repair and reinvention, we are offering everyone that donates before 26 February the chance to win a Renewed by Meta Struycken, custom-created by the Dutch textile artist. Created from a returned or damaged TOAST pieces, this one-of-a-kind garment will be inspired by TOAST Renewed by Meta Struycken, a capsule collection created in collaboration with Meta last year.
This unique item - a coat or cardigan - will be selected to suit your size with minimal waste created, using remnant TOAST fabrics and yarns, and Meta’s signature handcraft techniques.
For the chance to win, please donate before midnight on Thursday 26 February. Prize Draw Terms & Conditions apply.
Learn more about our Circle initiatives here.
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