{"id":523,"date":"2025-07-19T12:11:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T12:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yicatalogue.collectiveroutes.org\/?p=523"},"modified":"2025-07-22T09:03:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T09:03:44","slug":"upcycling-and-recycling-clothes-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yicatalogue.collectiveroutes.org\/?p=523","title":{"rendered":"Upcycling and Recycling Clothes Waste\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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N.B. This photo is not real, it is an AI-generated one.<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem and Motivation Behind<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCollege students wear a dress 10\u201315 times, then they get bored. They throw it, and it ends up in landfills \u2026 if our clothes are going to landfills\u2014then we are part of the problem. We decided we have to do something for our environment.\u201d <\/em>\u2014 Devika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devika (20-year-old) and her team grew up in Karnataka, where large landfills are a common sight. They noticed that a huge number of clothes were being thrown away, causing pollution and harming the environment. Many people, especially students, discard clothes after wearing them just a few times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Devika and her team, this throwaway culture sparked an idea\u2014they saw it as a chance to earn a living. Instead of viewing the clothes as waste, they saw them as a valuable resource that could be upcycled[1]<\/a> into new products. Their aim was not only to reduce waste and protect the environment but also to create a sustainable source of income for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Innovative Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost 99% of clothes are made of fabric, and people throw them away. We thought\u2014why not take those clothes and upcycle them into something useful? \u2026\u201cWe are making cushion covers, mats, bed bags, purses, handbags\u2014all from upcycled clothes.\u201d <\/em>\u2014 Devika<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Devika and her team joined the Youth Innovation and Action Lab (YIAL), they chose to address the problem of clothes pollution through upcycling. They found that the average life span of a garment is roughly three years, and thus, textile industry generates a huge amount of waste. Instead of letting clothes end up in landfills, they developed a solution to transform discarded fabric into everyday essentials. So far, they successfully produced and sold over 200 handcrafted upcycled items\u2014such as doormats, bags, cushion covers, purses, and handbags\u2014made entirely from discarded clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their aim was not only reducing waste but also introducing more people to the idea of sustainable consumption and upcycling culture. Therefore, they set up stalls to promote their products, and even did door to door visits to 100 houses and 20 colleges to raise awareness about upcycling and encourage clothing donations. At the end, they managed to sell most of their products, and earned around 2,000 Rupees (about $23) in profit. While the profit may seem modest, it was proof that their idea worked. It showed that their solution had real potential, and encouraged them to keep improving their products and expanding their sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lessons Learned and Addressing Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the start, people made fun of me. They said, what will you do? But now, they are shocked. I\u2019m paying my own education fees. They respect it now.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Devika<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Youth Innovation and Action Lab (YIAL) provided Devika and her team with training and mentorship support that helped them in developing their solution. They learned about entrepreneurship, sustainability,  and how to build and manage a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the journey was far from easy. Selling upcycled products in a market driven by mass production meant facing constant price comparisons and intense bargaining. Also, setting up stalls required permissions, logistical effort, and patient explanation to every potential customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on their experience, Devika identified two lessons learned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n