Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
In response to clothes waste and pollution in the fashion industry, Amsterdam has been home to the LENA “fashion library” since 2014. It is one of the world’s only physical centres where new and used clothing can be rented.
“This is an excellent way to wear new clothes without depleting the planet,” said Cakir, a 37-year-old NGO campaign manager.
Fashion is responsible for one-quarter of the world’s polluted waters and a third of microplastic discharges into the oceans, which prompted Elisa Jansen to start LENA with her two sisters and a friend.
LENA has an online section, plus drop-off and collection points in other Dutch cities.
“I really believe this is the future. Our consumption cannot continue as it is,” Jansen said. “I hope other brands will do it [too], so you have the option to borrow if you don’t want to buy.”
