Does a Halloween Costume Really Have to Be Worn Only Once?
Written by Kenji Tanaka
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Halloween may be one of the clearest examples of how fashion can become disposable.
Every October, stores and online marketplaces fill with Halloween costumes: witches, vampires, superheroes, movie and anime characters. Transforming into someone—or something—completely different from our everyday selves is one of the great pleasures of Halloween.
But many of these costumes are designed for a single occasion. After being worn for one night, they may never be worn again and can eventually become waste.
In that sense, Halloween represents an extreme example of disposable fashion.
How Many Costumes Are Thrown Away?
There is currently no reliable global statistic showing how many Halloween costumes are discarded each year.
There are, however, figures from individual countries that give us an idea of the scale.
In the United Kingdom, the environmental organization Hubbub estimated in 2017 that around seven million Halloween costumes were discarded every year. This is a nine-year-old estimate and does not directly represent current disposal levels. Given the changes in the size of the Halloween market and participation since then, the actual number today may be even higher. However, as of 2026, there does not appear to be a reliable nationwide UK statistic that updates this figure.
Hubbub's research also found that 69% of Halloween costumes at the time were made from polyester, while two out of five were worn only once before being discarded. These figures are also based on older research and should be understood in that context.
The US has an even larger Halloween market. In 2025, sustainable fashion activist Lexy Silverstein stated that approximately 35 million Halloween costumes are discarded in the United States each year. This is an estimate from an activist source, not an official government statistic. Forbes also noted that it was unable to independently verify the figure.
At the same time, the National Retail Federation projected total Halloween spending in the US at $13.1 billion in 2025, with $4.3 billion spent on costumes alone.
There is some uncertainty around the exact scale of costume waste. What is clear, however, is that Halloween has become a major consumer market—and a significant part of that market consists of garments that may be worn only once.
The Change Is Already Happening in Colombia
In Colombia, there is no national statistic showing how many Halloween costumes are discarded each year. But there is another interesting development.
On the second-hand clothing platform GoTrendier, 4,553 used Halloween costumes were sold between October and November 2024, generating approximately COP 159 million in transactions.
In other words, there is already a market for costumes to move from one person to another rather than simply being thrown away.
At the same time, low-cost international e-commerce platforms are also entering this market.
In 2025, Fantastic Night, a major Colombian costume manufacturer, said that very inexpensive costumes coming from international e-commerce platforms such as Temu were putting pressure on domestic costume sales. The company produces around 250,000 costumes a year and also offers higher-quality costumes designed to be used for several years.
Halloween costumes, too, are becoming part of a consumption model in which inexpensive new products can be purchased every year and potentially discarded after a single use.
There is no reliable public figure showing how much Temu sells specifically in Halloween costumes. But the more important issue is not how much Temu sells during Halloween. It is the existence of a market in which a costume that may be worn only once can be purchased extremely cheaply and replaced the following year.
You Don't Need to Buy a New Costume Every Year
Halloween does not require a new costume every year.
Wear last year's costume again.
Borrow one from a friend or family member.
Look for a second-hand costume.
Organize a costume swap.
Use clothes already in your wardrobe.
Or take an old shirt, jacket, pair of trousers, hat, or accessories and transform them into something completely different.
In fact, these approaches may leave more room for creativity.
Instead of buying a finished costume, start with what you already have and ask what you can create from it. That can be a much more creative way of engaging with fashion.
A Garment Does Not Lose Its Value After One Wear
In tailoring, a garment is not something that is meant to be used once and then discarded.
It can be altered. The silhouette can be changed. Buttons can be replaced. Damaged areas can be repaired. And eventually, the garment can be passed on to someone else.
Sometimes, a garment can even acquire new meaning as it becomes part of someone's life.
The clothes we make at uniontailors are not meant to reach the end of their value the moment they are completed. That is when their life actually begins.
This is why, when we think about clothing, the question should not only be What should I buy? It should also be How long can I use it? and Who might wear it after me?
Halloween comes only once a year.
So does a costume really have to be something that is worn only once?
Halloween itself does not need to disappear. The fun of dressing up, becoming someone—or something—else, and creating something new can all remain.
Perhaps what needs to change is not the way we enjoy Halloween, but the way we think about the clothes we use to enjoy it.
This Halloween, before buying a new costume, take a look inside your wardrobe.
What could you become with the clothes you already have?