At Tailored Image, sustainability is a priority across every touchpoint in the business. In a world pervaded by ‘fast fashion’ and huge unethical waste of clothing, the company believes that true sustainability means finding a life for garments beyond their original intended use. In doing so, they're helping customers not only achieve their sustainability objectives, but to ensure their garments are taken out of circulation safely and ethically.
This year already, Tailored Image has undertaken two sizeable recycling initiatives – with two very different purposes – that have prevented thousands of garments from being committed to landfill. Through their work with a charitable organisation and a forward-thinking recycling expert, they're not just talking about sustainability; they’re putting it into action.
Transforming Cast-Offs into Canine Comfort
Many Tailored Image customers struggle to know how to reuse or recycle branded garments. Charity donations are unsuitable for many garments due to company logos having been embroidered and/or some garments not being of use for being re-worn outside of their original purpose.
For garments that have reached the end of their lifecycle or are unsuitable for reuse, the company has partnered with a major recycling expert to pioneer a circular solution. Instead of these garments being sent to landfill, outdated uniforms are shredded and repurposed into high-quality dog care and accessory products. Working together, these companies have found a solution with three definitive benefits:
- Environmental Impact: Garments are directed away from landfill and instead given a new life
- Security & Peace of Mind: Every client receives a Destruction Certificate, ensuring brand security by confirming exactly when and how their branded items were processed.
- Financial Benefits: In some cases, a financial rebate can be offered based on the weight of the material.
In a recent project for a major retail customer, Tailored Image successfully recycled over 11,000kg of material, creating over 1,000 dog beds. Not only did this contribute to their sustainability targets, but it also returned a significant four-figure sum for this corporate partner: an excellent result about which they were delighted!
Supporting Charity and Community with Vision Ireland
When garments are unbranded and in good condition, finding a life beyond a uniform contract can look very different and efforts turn towards make a social impact. Having recently been approached by a client keen to find a solution for approximately 2,000 garments from a previous uniform iteration, Tailored Image sought to find a meaningful use for them and is very proud to have chosen Vision Ireland as a partner for the donation of these garments was – an organisation that, inspired by the determination to overcome any obstacle, transforms the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired to deliver tangible change to today’s needs. These garments have been donated for sale across the charity’s network of charity shops across the island of Ireland, the proceeds of which go towards funding:
- Specialist Technology: Providing life-changing tools for the blind and vision-impaired community
- Independence Services: Supporting resources like the “Vision Van” and accessible libraries
- Environmental Leadership: Joining Vision Ireland’s efforts, which diverted over 307,000kg of clothing from landfills last year alone
In supporting Vision Ireland, this collaboration ensures that high-quality clothing finds a second life while supporting a vital cause.
A Vision for the Future
From shredding fibres for animal comfort to stocking charity shop shelves, Tailored Image is dedicated to a circular economy. The company's original commitment to customers to guide the uniform process from ‘Design to Delivery’ has now extended further to include how it manages its impact beyond the original confines of a contract. Tailored Image's work with the above organisations, and many more, proves that with the right structures and partnerships in place, there is value in uniforms beyond their natural lifespan.