India's Textile Industry Embraces Circular Fashion for a Sustainable Future
04 November 2023, Mumbai
WHY India
India's textile industry, which is expected to reach $223 billion shortly, is embracing circular fashion to address its environmental impact. Cotton farming, the main raw material for the industry, consumes about a quarter of the world's pesticides, and textile production generates a lot of waste.
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Circularity
Circular fashion aims to make the industry more eco-friendly and resource-efficient by eliminating harmful substances, increasing the lifespan of clothes, recycling materials, and using resources wisely. Industry-led initiatives like the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the Higg Index, a tool to measure and improve sustainability performance, are supporting this transition.
New technologies and practices are also emerging in India to promote circular fashion. Startups like Boheco, Trustrace, Lionise, and Kiabza are exploring new ways of making, selling, renting, and reselling clothes.
The right step in the right direction:
Here are some specific examples of how India's textile industry is embracing circular fashion
Boheco is a Mumbai-based company that is using hemp fiber as an alternative to cotton. Hemp is a more sustainable crop than cotton, as it requires less water and pesticides to grow.
Trustrace is a Chennai-based company that is using blockchain technology to enhance the visibility and accountability of the supply chain. This helps to ensure that materials are sourced from sustainable suppliers and that products are manufactured in ethical conditions.
Lionise and Kiabza are experimenting with new retail models that focus on renting and reselling clothes rather than buying new ones. This helps to extend the lifespan of clothes and reduce waste.
Future Forward
These are just a few examples of the many ways in which India's textile industry is embracing circular fashion. As the industry continues to grow, it is important to adopt sustainable practices to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future for the industry.
