The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has joined forces with leading organisations to launch a nationwide Unused Garments Collection Drive ahead of Independence Day, encouraging citizens to donate clothing they no longer use and contribute to India’s growing circular fashion movement.
The initiative aims to reduce textile waste, encourage responsible consumption and ensure that unused garments are reused, recycled or repurposed rather than sent to landfills.
The campaign is being undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ReFiber, OteriRi, Tisser, World Trade Center Mumbai and Lions International.
Commenting on the initiative, Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI, said, “As one of the world’s largest apparel markets, India has both the opportunity and the responsibility to embrace more sustainable consumption practices. Every unused garment represents a valuable resource that can be reused, recycled or repurposed instead of being discarded. Through this initiative, we invite every household to become a part of the circular economy by giving their unused clothes a new life. Collective action, even through small individual contributions, can create a significant impact on our environment.”
Campaign Targets 20,000 Kg of Textile Waste
A key implementation partner in the initiative is ReFiber, a digital platform focused on converting post-consumer textile waste into verified circular outcomes through household collection, digital traceability and upcycling.
The campaign has set a target of collecting 20,000 kilograms of unused garments and textile waste. The collected materials will be sorted, repurposed and upcycled into value-added products, helping divert textile waste from landfills while supporting the development of a circular textile ecosystem.
The initiative also has a strong social impact component. Through its partnership with Tisser, which works with more than 20,000 women artisans across India, the campaign aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for women engaged in the upcycling value chain.
Consumers can participate through the ReFiber mobile application, which enables them to schedule doorstep pickups of unused garments, making it easier for households to contribute to the campaign.
Linking Sustainability with Livelihood Creation
Naveen Sainani, Hon. General Secretary and Chairman – ESG Committee, CMAI, said, “Circularity can only succeed when industry, communities and consumers come together with a shared purpose. This initiative not only diverts textile waste from landfills but also strengthens an ecosystem that creates meaningful livelihood opportunities through reuse and upcycling. It demonstrates how sustainability can simultaneously deliver environmental, economic and social value.”
The campaign highlights the importance of collaboration across the apparel value chain, bringing together industry stakeholders, international development organisations, civil society groups and consumers to advance circular practices.
Strengthening India’s Circular Textile Economy
The Unused Garments Collection Drive forms part of CMAI’s broader sustainability efforts and supports India’s transition towards a more circular textile and apparel economy.
By encouraging consumers to reconsider the lifecycle of their clothing, the initiative seeks to promote responsible consumption while creating opportunities for reuse, recycling and upcycling. It also demonstrates how textile waste can become a valuable resource when supported by appropriate collection, sorting, traceability and processing systems.
As India prepares to celebrate Independence Day, CMAI is encouraging citizens to participate by donating unused garments. The initiative aims to turn individual contributions into collective environmental and social impact, supporting cleaner communities, sustainable livelihoods and a more resource-efficient future for India’s textile and apparel industry.
