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The Wardrobe Collective formed in 2030 after years of planning, organising and gathering a wardrobe that could be shared with anyone and everyone. As global trade came to an end in 2024, so did the mass production of clothing. Fashion as we knew it needed to be refigured and revolutionised.
The Hertfordshire Collective demonstrated to the community the importance of coming together and working in unison. Recognising the importance to act as a community, people embraced their neighbours and started to share their belongings, skills and trade.
Research quickly made us realise that we were all sitting on a precious commodity and letting it collect dust in the back of our wardrobes. In Hitchin alone, we found that around a million items of clothing were being unworn. We took the initiative to unlock its full potential and proposed the idea of a collective wardrobe. Individuals voluntarily donated 10-26% of their unworn wardrobes which lead us to form the Wardrobe Collective.
This has allowed us to keep clothing in circulation within our local community and has released the pressure of the demand for more clothing. We no longer needed to create more items of clothing when we were already sitting on an abundance of it.
We took over the High Street and allowed ourselves to celebrate shared ownership. We knocked down the neighbouring walls in shops and created one big walk-in-wardrobe for everyone to share. Each area has been carefully curated in categories of clothing. Clothing no longer categorised in order of gender but sizing, collaborations, repairs and condition. Our wish is to allow clothing to be accessible to anyone and everyone and reconnect individuals with fashion.
The wardrobe doesn’t risk quality but instead embraces second hand and creativity through our collaborations with other Collectives. We quality control all clothing that gets swapped in here, send them off to repairs if needed and anything beyond gets sent to Skill Exchange where people of the community learn how to Upcycle. No item of clothing will be wasted again.
If you wish to get involved, check out our Community Service page or if you need help repairing and extending the life of your garment, head over to our Collaborations page.
See what your Community thinks.
THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
26%
OF CLOTHES UNWORN
1 MILLION UNWORN GARMENTS
In 2023, we discovered that 26% of clothing in peoples wardrobes were not being worn every year.
That's over a million garments collecting dust in wardrobes of Hitchin alone!
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HOW IT WORKS
We have around 1 million items of clothing that have been brought out of hiding. We have unleashed life back into them, waiting for their new owners here in the Wardrobe. Since everyone has already taken part in donating a percentage of their wardrobe, the Wardrobe now works on a one in one out basis or you can swap your item of clothings for coins in store . The community can either pay a monthly subscription fee for £17 per month or a one time payment of £5 per garment, in order to keep the Wardrobe running.
ONE IN ONE OUT
OR
SWAP FOR COINS
MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION
OR
ONE TIME PAYMENT
This website allows you to see what’s new in and available in the Wardrobe and to stay updated within the fashion community. It’s for browsing only. In order to reserve an item of clothing, take note of the digital code and head on down to the Wardrobe.
Allow yourself to connect with clothing. Glide your hands against the clothes and feel the textures at your fingertips. Cloak yourself in the array of colours and feel the warmth and experiences of every piece.
The Wardrobe has been made to be accessible by everyone, but any issues on getting here then we will come to you.
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We’ve discovered that individuals trust and accept second hand clothing when there’s enough knowledge about the garment. People are more likely to accept secondhand when it comes from friends and family in comparison to others. Through this, we have decided to create a digital log where we can document a garments life and in doing so we can celebrate the lives they have touched and the memories they have experienced. It has allowed people to truly connect and appreciate their clothing.
Find out about the life of your garment here.