redressing the balance
THREAD TOGETHER TAKES EXCESS CLOTHING FROM
FASHION BRANDS AND GIVES IT TO THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED IT MOST.
..........
Tell us about Thread Together...
Millions of items of unsold, brand-new clothing are dumped by stores into landfi ll
every year. As a society, we recognise that people need food and shelter – however,
we often don’t realise people also need basic clothing. Many Australians don’t have
access to a warm winter jumper, comfortable, waterproof shoes or even a clean
pair of underwear. Clothing doesn’t just protect us from the elements – it also helps
shape our confi dence, dignity and motivation, and that has the power to turn lives
around. Thread Together off ers a socially responsible way for the fashion world to
donate their end-of-line stock to those in our community going through a tough
time, as well as generate a win for the environment.
How does it work?
We collect the stock and take it to our warehouse, and charities can then either order
clothes via an online portal or by referring clients to our clothing hubs in Sydney, Can-
berra and Adelaide, which are set up to provide an authentic shopping experience.
Customers are invited to choose outfi ts that match their style and personality as well
as their circumstances – providing choice within a dignifi ed, safe and positive envi-
ronment. We believe off ering choice is crucial to helping restore dignity and pride.
Which big names have come on board?
We’ve partnered with The Iconic, General Pants Co., Camilla and Marc, and Bec +
Bridge, among others. The list keeps growing – the more brands fi nd out about us,
the more they want to be part of this ethical response to fashion waste.
How can ordinary people get involved?
Through a network of over 150 charity partners and numerous dedicated corporate
partners and volunteers, Thread Together provides new clothing to 2000 people per
week. We couldn’t do that without the support of our community – we don’t charge
the charities we work with or the people we help. It costs us $5 to clothe a person –
for the price of a coff ee, you could make a profound impact in someone’s life, with
the huge bonus being the win for the environment at the same time.
What’s been most rewarding about your work so far?
Our work goes directly to giving people as much dignity as possible at their dark-
est time. It’s a service that recognises that tough times eventually subside. While
someone is going through it, the very best should be aff orded to that person to get
them back on track.
threadtogether.org
A CLIMATE IN CRISIS
A new report has found 274 companies with
the world’s highest levels of carbon emis-
sions are on track to fail to meet the goals of
the Paris Agreement. ‘TPI State of Transition
Report 2019’, from the Grantham Research
Institute on Climate Change and the Environ-
ment, examined leaders in 14 carbon-intensive
sectors including oil and gas, automotive and
aviation. It found 46% don’t adequately con-
sider climate risk in operational decision-mak-
ing and 25% don’t report their emissions at all.Denim brand G-Star has announced a new collection
using plant-based dyes derived from beetroot and
saw palmetto leaves. EarthColors® by Archroma,
which produces fully traceable plant-waste dyes,
has partnered with G-Star to produce the range of
jeans, jackets and tees. Fashion giant Gap Inc. has
also announced plans to produce waterless denim
using a foam-dyeing technique, which will reduce
water usage by up to 99%.JEAN GENIUS
A NEW LEAF
The next generation of electric cars,
including the new-to-Australia second-
generation Nissan Leaf, are fi tted with
bidirectional charging capabilities –
meaning your car battery can feed power
back into your home. When charged at free
solar charging stations or at off -peak rates
overnight, the batteries can help make
signifi cant savings on utility bills.GREEN SCENE