Why Circularity Starts at Design
Join one of our two in-person Circular Design Masterclass' happening in Stockholm next month
Circular Design Masterclass — Stockholm, November 2025
Learn more and apply here: https://www.bergstrand.co/workshops/circular-design-masterclass
What Circularity Means Now
The European Union has set an ambitious goal: to become a fully circular economy by 2050 as part of the Green Deal. For fashion, this means a fundamental transformation. By 2030, all textile products placed on the EU market should be long-lasting, repairable, and recyclable.
But the reality today looks very different. According to Textile Exchange’s 2025 Materials Market Report, emissions from textiles have risen by 20% in the past five years. Global fibre production hit a record 132 million tonnes in 2024, with polyester making up nearly 60% of that.
Meanwhile, the linear “take–make–waste” system is collapsing under its own weight: every second, a truckload of clothing is landfilled or burned, while less than 1% of used textiles are recycled into new garments. Left unchecked, fashion could consume more than a quarter of the global carbon budget for a 2°C pathway by 2050.
The conclusion is unavoidable: simply “extracting better” isn’t enough. To reach climate goals, fashion must shift to a circular model, designing products that remain in circulation for decades, not months.
The Hidden Power of Design Decisions
Circularity starts long before a garment reaches the shop floor. Some estimates suggest that as much as 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage. Every material choice, seam, and construction method influences how long a garment will last, and what can happen to it once it’s worn out.
Designing for longevity doesn’t only mean creating durable clothes; it means making garments that invite care, repair, and reuse. Swedish denim brand Nudie Jeans approaches design with this mindset, creating garments intended to be maintained, mended, and kept in use for as long as possible. In 2023, the brand also repaired more than 73,000 pairs of jeans through its global repair program.
What Circular Design Unlocks
For Brands
New value streams: Programs like Patagonia’s Worn Wear and TOAST’s Renewed show how resale and repair can drive loyalty and capture revenue beyond the first sale
Regulatory readiness: With EU Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes coming, brands that design with recyclability in mind will be better placed to comply
Reputation & impact: Circular models can strengthen consumer trust while lowering a brand’s resource use and waste
For Designers
Creative opportunity: Working with modularity, multi-functionality, and upcycled textiles unlocks new design languages
Career advantage: Circular design is fast becoming a sought-after skillset, as fashion schools and companies alike embed circularity into their programs
For the Planet
Less extraction: Using what we already have reduces demand for virgin fibres and synthetics
Lower emissions: Studies have shown how circular economy strategies can cut global greenhouse gas emissions
Less waste: Keeping garments in use means fewer landfills filled with textiles, and fewer toxic piles like those seen in Chile’s Atacama Desert or Ghana’s Accra
Circularity as a Mindset Shift
Circular fashion isn’t just about recycling. It’s about rethinking the entire model of fashion, from ownership to design.
It requires:
Seeing clothing as long-term investments, not disposables
Designing for multiple owners and uses over time
Shifting from “selling more units” to “delivering more value per unit”
The Bergstrand Circular Design Framework
At Bergstrand, we’ve spent years working with design and product teams to embed circularity into their creative process. Our Circular Design Framework enables designers to:
Apply circular design principles to real collections
Identify where recyclability, repairability, and longevity can be strengthened
Build a mindset where circularity fuels creativity, not restricts it
Join the Circular Design Masterclass
This November, we’re opening up our Circular Design Masterclass to individuals for the first time.
Masterclass dates:
November 6, 2025 17:30 (deadline for signup October 31st)
November 18, 2025 9:00 (deadline for signup November 12th)
Location: Stockholm Södermalm (SoFo)
Duration: Four hours
Language: English
If you’re a designer, product developer, fabric buyer or someone involved with clothing production, and looking to turn circularity into part of your toolkit, this is your chance.
Apply here to join a Circular Design Masterclass: https://www.bergstrand.co/workshops/circular-design-masterclass