How Recycling Can Address Our Mindfulness Gap In Fashion
As we witness the complexities of modern life, it's becoming increasingly clear that our habits and consumption behavior have had a profound impact on the planet. The alarming state of our environment has crossed the threshold of a wake-up call, and scientists and activists are urging us to take urgent action. In this critical moment, it's essential to rethink how we consume, especially when it comes to fashion.
Fashion has evolved for the worse to represent more than just individual character, confidence, style, personality, and ideology – it has become insatiable fancy. However, this shift has come at a significant cost. Fast fashion has taken over retail stores, demographics, and wardrobes, leaving behind a trail of waste. India, once celebrated for its rich heritage and diverse textiles, has succumbed to the allure of fast fashion.
We’re now sitting amidst huge piles of clothes – the ruins of our own making, surrounded by a dump of fashion waste that we never wanted in the first place. It is our crime for which Earth is being penalized. However, there’s still hope.
A few pioneering initiatives in India are working to change the narrative. ReSpun, India Recycles, and ReCircle are just a few organizations that are redefining waste management and educating us on the importance of mindful consumption. By highlighting these initiatives, we hope to inspire a new wave of sustainability in the fashion industry and beyond.
ReSpun
ReSpun is India’s top textile recycling centre working to address the escalating issue of fashion waste. Operating under the umbrella of Kay Gee Enterprises, a well-established textile company with over three decades of experience in northern India, ReSpun offers a sustainable solution for individuals and organizations to responsibly declutter their wardrobes. The company’s mission is to transform discarded garments into valuable products, thereby conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact.
ReSpun’s recycling process is both meticulous and innovative – collected textiles undergo thorough sorting, where parts like buttons, beads and zippers are removed. The fabrics are then processed using state-of-the-art recycling systems, converting them back into fibers. These fibers are subsequently spun into yarns in raw white and a spectrum of colors, catering to diverse needs.
ReSpun also extends its recycled materials into home furnishings, offering products such as carpets, mats, and picnic blankets. Important to highlight here is the initiative not only reduces textile waste but also provides dignified employment opportunities for rural workers. In fashion industry where waste management roles are largely undervalued and underpaid, ReSpun ensures fair wages and safe working conditions, uplifting communities and promoting social equity – committing to SDGs – 8, 10, 12 and 13.
Recycling a single t-shirt can save up to 3,000 liters of water.
In 2023 – ReSpun reported saving 5,600 tonnes of fashion waste from landfills
Ensured 120,000 hours of rural employment
Cut down CO₂ emissions by 336 million kilograms
India Recycles
Founded by Renu Pokharna, India Recycles is aimed at promoting the reuse and recycling of pre-owned items to foster environmental sustainability and social equity. The organization’s journey began in 2017 when Renu, inspired by her experiences with thrift stores in New York, organized a swap event in Ahmedabad for pre-owned clothes, accessories, footwear, and bags. This event highlighted – the excessive disposal of garments due to fast fashion and emphasised the need for a structured approach to manage textile waste in India.
India Recycles introduced “slum sales.” – these sales offer pre-loved items at nominal prices ranging from ₹10 to ₹30, enabling underprivileged communities to purchase goods of their choice but in a dignified manner. The campaign received overwhelming positive response and the sales demonstrated a demand for affordable, quality products among low-income populations.
India Recycles established over 35 drop-off points across cities for collecting donations, including clothes, shoes, bags, kitchen items, toys, cosmetics, and furniture. The organization conducts weekly garage sales in various slums, collaborating with community leaders to ensure effective outreach and engagement. The leadership team comprises Renu Pokharna, who brings a decade of experience in public policy and development across India, Africa, and the USA, and Pranav Gupta, a corporate social responsibility professional and pro in developing sustainability policies and programs. Together, they work with stakeholders to seamlessly execute initiatives and establish sustainable partnerships.
India Recycles’ bridges the gap
between environmental responsibility and social welfare,
creating a circular economy that benefits the planet and its people.
ReCircle
ReCircle is a Mumbai-based organization that champions waste management in India by diverting waste from landfills and water bodies. Founded nearly a decade ago, ReCircle has developed a comprehensive nationwide network of waste collectors and processors, leveraging advanced technology to streamline waste management for global brands and individual clients alike.
The organization’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to a circular economy by recognizing waste as a valuable resource. ReCircle has implemented several flagship initiatives:
- Kind Plastic: focuses on the ethical sourcing and recycling of plastic waste, ensuring that recovered plastics are reintegrated into the production cycle, thereby reducing the demand for virgin materials.
- ClimaOne: emphasizes the reduction of carbon footprints through efficient recycling processes.
- Plastic-Offset Programs: enables companies to offset their plastic usage by investing in recycling efforts equivalent to their plastic footprint.
- Community Collection Drives: organizes grassroots-level collection drives, engaging local communities in waste segregation and recycling efforts.
ReCircle’s operations are underpinned by
300 waste collection partners
45 processing units
Across more than 300 locations in India.
Recovery of approximately 8,800 kilograms of waste per hour,
ReCircle exemplifies how collective action can transform waste management systems.