Household-Level Circular Economy : Up-cycling Post-Customer Garments into Functional Home Textile Products.

Yasotha P; Subhathra M; Harini K; Nijitha M

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.84734

Household-Level Circular Economy : Up-cycling Post-Customer Garments into Functional Home Textile Products.

Author(s)	Prof. Dr. Yasotha P, Ms. Subhathra M, Ms. Harini K, Ms. Nijitha M
Country	India
Abstract	The growing accumulation of post-consumer textile waste has become one of the major environmental challenges associated with the fashion industry. While industrial recycling initiatives continue to evolve, a significant opportunity exists within households, where discarded garments often remain under utilised despite retaining considerable functional value. This study explores household-level up-cycling as a practical approach to extending the life cycle of garments through the development of functional home textile products. Used clothing collected from domestic wardrobes was carefully assessed for fabric quality, durability, and usability before being creatively transformed into products for the kitchen, dining, sewing, study, and living spaces. Garments were systematically deconstructed, with buttons, zippers, pockets, elastics, and decorative trims separated and repurposed wherever possible to ensure maximum material utilization and minimum waste generation. Rather than viewing worn clothing as waste, this research demonstrates how every household can become the starting point of a circular textile economy by giving existing garments a second life. Beyond reducing landfill disposal and conserving natural resources, the proposed approach encourages creativity, sustainable consumption, environmental awareness, and conscious lifestyle practices. It further highlights how simple household initiatives can collectively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), while inspiring future generations to adopt sustainable design practices and circular thinking in everyday life.
Keywords	Up-cycling, Post-consumer textile waste, House hold sustainability, Circular economy, Home textiles, Sustainable consumption, Resource efficiency, Textile waste management
Field	Arts > Fashion
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-07-29
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.84734

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Household-Level Circular Economy : Up-cycling Post-Customer Garments into Functional Home Textile Products.

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