Designing for longevity and neutrality: Investigating how the Swedish children’s clothing industry implements circular economy principles

As research has well established, the fashion industry has a significant and growing waste problem. In response, experts argue that our clothing needs to have a longer life. However, not all items of clothing can be used for a long period of time. Children’s clothing, for example, can quickly become obsolete, creating a waste issue. To explore this issue further, we examine the Swedish children’s wear market and how designing for the circular economy can address this market segment’s unique sustainability challenges. Rather than centering on a consumer perspective, we investigate the role of design in supporting the transition to a more circular children’s clothing industry. As a key contribution, this article demonstrates that there are more circular design strategies available than prior research has explicitly mentioned. In particular, we show how design for longevity and design for neutrality can help to overcome some of the sustainability challenges facing the industry.