Mega Used Clothes Upcyclon aims to boost textile waste reduction, reuse and upcycling across India
Marking World Environment Day, the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ReFiber, Oterri, Tisser, World Trade Center Mumbai, and Lions International, launched the ‘Mega Used Clothes Upcyclon’, a nationwide initiative focused on consumer awareness, used-clothing collection and textile upcycling.
The programme was introduced at an event in Mumbai and aims to strengthen India’s post-consumer textile waste management ecosystem, a key component in advancing circularity within the textile and apparel sector.
According to industry estimates, more than half of all textile waste is generated after consumer use, while nearly two-thirds of discarded household apparel ends up in landfills or open dumps. The initiative seeks to address these challenges by encouraging greater consumer participation in collection, reuse, recycling and upcycling efforts.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Smt. Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, highlighted the importance of collaboration among industry, government bodies, civil society organisations and consumers to accelerate sustainability and circularity across the textile value chain. She also emphasized the need for responsible consumption and disposal practices to reduce the environmental impact of fashion.
Speaking on the occasion, Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI, said, “The transition towards a circular economy cannot be achieved by industry efforts alone. Consumers are a critical stakeholder in this journey. Every garment that is responsibly donated instead of discarded contributes to extending its lifecycle, reducing waste, conserving valuable resources, and lowering environmental impact. Through this initiative, CMAI and its partners have planned to create greater awareness about the importance of responsible consumption and empower citizens to become active participants in India’s circular economy movement.”
As part of the programme, CMAI and its partners aim to collect 20,000 kilograms of used clothing and household textiles for reuse and upcycling. The initiative is being supported by Tisser, an organisation that works with more than 20,000 women artisans and workers across India.
Beyond reducing textile waste, the campaign is expected to create livelihood opportunities for women involved in the upcycling value chain, supporting both environmental and social sustainability goals.
The Mega Used Clothes Upcyclon also marks the beginning of a broader consumer engagement campaign led by CMAI to build awareness around responsible consumption and establish a more accessible ecosystem for textile collection, reuse, upcycling, recycling and waste reduction.
Naveen Sainani, Hon. General Secretary and Chairman, ESG Committee, CMAI, said, “India’s textile and clothing industry is committed to accelerating circularity, but the success of these efforts depends on building an ecosystem that connects consumers, collection networks, recyclers, upcyclers, and manufacturers. This initiative is designed not only to divert textile and clothing waste from landfills but also to demonstrate how discarded garments can be transformed into economic, social, and environmental value. It is a powerful example of how collective action can create measurable impact.”
CMAI has been actively working to bring together stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to advance sustainability initiatives. Earlier this year, the association hosted the inaugural ECO-STITCH Sustainability Conclave in Mumbai, supported by the Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability Council (GATS), Brands & Sourcing Leaders Association (BSL), and UNIDO, providing a platform for industry dialogue and collaborative action on sustainability.
