Wimbledon’s ‘Murray Mound’ reimagined as towering heap of tennis whites
Henman Hill was famously renamed Murray Mound after British tennis ace Andy Murray during the peak of his career in the 2010s. But, now, the famous Wimbledon landmark has been reimagined as a pile of discarded white clothing.
It is estimated that a mound of clothes, large enough to rival Henman hill, is heading to landfill every single day. This reimagined landmark on London’s southbank is built from stained, dulled and discoloured white clothing, to spotlight the scale of the UK’s textile waste problem.
Fronted by Judy Murray and created by cleaning and laundry specialists, Dr. Beckmann encourages Brits to keep their white clothing in play for longer, putting tennis whites front and centre.
The five-metre-high, eight-metre-wide mound has been made from thousands of discarded white garments saved from landfill, reflecting the famous all-white tennis dress code.
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Research of 2,000 adults commissioned by Dr. Beckmann and circular clothing experts, Reskinned, revealed white is officially the UK’s favourite colourway to wear in the summer - but also one of the most likely to be thrown away.
Brits admit to throwing away an average of eight white clothing items per person each year, equating to an estimated 440,178,024 white garments annually across the UK.
The average lifespan of coloured clothing is around a third longer than white clothing, with staining, dulling and discolouration driving much of the problem.
The result is a cycle of replacement rather than retention, with the average person expected to buy 212 white T-shirts during their adult lifetime.
Judy Murray said: “As a mum, I remember the endless battle of trying to keep Andy and Jamie’s tennis whites looking white. Grass stains, sweat marks, mud - you name it, it all came home with them. So, I know first-hand how quickly white clothing can start to look past its best.
“But to think that a pile of discarded white clothing the size of Murray Mound is going into landfill every single day is deeply concerning. Tennis is synonymous with white clothing, so there’s no better moment to shine a light on the issue.”
The research also revealed many discarded white items could be saved with better laundry habits as 52% don’t always do a white wash, risking colour transfer, dulling and greying.
Chloe Baker from Dr. Beckmann, creators of Glowhite, which helps to prevent greying and dullness, said: “Nearly half of Brits are washing whites with colours, which can accelerate greying and dullness, while stains, sweat marks and yellowing are causing people to replace items that could often be rescued.
“We believe people need the right tools for the right job. Our mission is to help consumers care better, waste less and keep their whites in play for longer.”
While charity shops (63%) remain the most popular destination for unwanted clothing, 29% admit to putting unwanted garments straight into the household bin.
However, clothing also faces a unique second-hand stigma. Many believe stains and marks are easier to spot making it the hardest colour to resell. One in three even admitted they are less likely to buy second-hand white clothing.
Ross Barry, co-founder of Reskinned, said: “This is the first time we have seen estimates looking specifically at colourway, and the findings show just how vulnerable white clothing is to being discarded.
“White garments can be harder to resell or donate because visible marks, stains and discolouration are easier to spot, but that does not mean they have reached the end of their life.
“Stains and all, we work to make sure clothing is given a second life wherever possible.
"Through our takeback programme, we collect unwanted clothing directly from consumers and find the best next destination for every item, whether that is resale, repair, reuse or recycling, helping to keep textiles in use for longer and out of landfill.”
To help consumers rescue their own summer whites, Dr. Beckmann has also launched The Washing Line, a dedicated laundry hotline (+441618412861), offering expert advice on tackling stains, dullness and discoloration this fortnight.