Meet the Co-Founder: Jasmine Tuan from Cloop

In an inspiring conversation with Jasmine Tuan, co-founder of cloop, we delve into her remarkable journey from self-proclaimed shopaholic to a fervent advocate for sustainability. Join us as Jasmine shares her insights on cultivating a circular wardrobe and involving the next generation in the dialogue about responsible fashion choices.

In 2012, a close call prompted Jasmine to reevaluate her life. Prior, she led a busy social life, but challenges arose, including family losses and business closure.. Left with an abundance of time and clothing, Jasmine reflected on the importance of life beyond material possessions. This pivotal moment sparked a transformative journey.

1) Your transformation from a shopaholic to a sustainability advocate is inspiring. Can you pinpoint any specific pivotal moments or realizations that led to this transformation?

When I met the Zero Waste Malaysia NGO community at the end of 2017, I got exposed to the 5R principles by Bea Johnson (writer of Zero Waste Home), which inspired me to commit to a radical lifestyle change in 2018 - going zero waste and zero shopping on new fashion items, especially fast fashion.

Challenging for the then-shopaholic. I was so ready to wear the same clothes for the rest of my life until I was introduced to the concept of swapping in Malaysia. When I moved back to Singapore in 2020, instead of waiting for someone to do it, I joined forces with Cloop and did our first Fashion Swap! popup together in October 2020, and the rest is history - This coming October will be our 3rd anniversary!

2) As someone deeply involved in sustainability, could you share the top 3 habits that you have adopted in your daily life to contribute to a more sustainable and circular wardrobe?

Before you start, stop. Stop buying/adding things to your life. Access your existing items or access them from time to time to see if they still add value to your life. Questions to ask yourself - Have you used it for the last 90 days? If not, would you be using it in the next 90 days? If the answer is No, maybe it's time to Go. I learned this from theminimalist.com

Try selling them. If not, who can you bless the items directly to enrich their life or benefit them? Otherwise, which organisation can you donate the items to responsibly (not dumping)? Understanding the processes of what happens after you donate is very important. We might just be shifting the waste from one country to another country's landfill, indirectly contributing to climate change and global warming.

If you must shop, shop from your wardrobe first. You might find something in there still brand new with a tag, unworn, forgotten. Wear what you already have, but style it differently. Have fun! Be creative and wear them differently - try back to front - I love doing that.

Have great items but stop wearing them because of career change, lifestyle change, body change, etc? Take them out to swap for other great items you would wear today. Try swapping with Cloop! 

3) It is Secondhand September which is a good reminder for the community to reflect on how they can make a change to their sustainable fashion choices. What advice would you give?

Take a good look at your wardrobe. Be present with it. Look at what you already have. Do you really need more clothes? Ask yourself a few levels of Why? Dig deeper.

Shopping addiction is not often talked about because it's so lucrative for business. 

If you know you have a shopping addiction, come talk to me. I was a shopaholic, and I know how hard it is. Today, I managed to curb the need to shop entirely, and through the work I do at Cloop, I get to enjoy fashion in the most sustainable way - swapping and shopping preloved (some are brand new with tags!) and I also have less attachment to things. If I stop using something, I just clean and put it back into circulation. Closing the loop for fashion for good. Part of the proceeds of what we do is channelled to meaningful causes.

Just remember, the more things you own, the more things own you - and your precious time for more important things in life.

4) Children's fashion, much like adult fashion, has witnessed rapid changes in trends and consumption. From your perspective, how can we involve the next generation in the conversation about sustainable fashion? 

Parents purchase clothes for their children. Parent’s role model consumption habits for their children. Change starts with us. And the ripple effect follows.

Secondhand is here to stay. Today's secondhand is a mix of lightly worn (once or twice) apparel and brand new with tags! Use the existing resources instead of extracting more to make something 'sustainable'. Lead by example. Make trips to thrift stores with your children, and shop sustainably in this manner. Mix and match. Have fun!

It’s unfair to pass the burden to adopt sustainability to the next generation. All generations have a role to play and need to become more conscious of the social pressures businesses thrive on to generate revenue. It’s important to consider curbing your consumption if you feel that businesses are making you feel like you are not whole without purchasing.

Lots of love!