The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has launched a nationwide Unused Garments Collection Drive ahead of Independence Day, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and India’s growing circular fashion movement. The initiative encourages citizens to donate unused clothing, helping reduce textile waste while promoting responsible consumption and resource recovery.
The campaign is being organised in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ReFiber, OteriRi, Tisser, World Trade Center Mumbai, and Lions International. Together, the partners aim to divert textile waste from landfills by transforming discarded garments into useful, value-added products through reuse, recycling and upcycling.
Commenting on the initiative, Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI, said that India, as one of the world’s largest apparel markets, has both the opportunity and responsibility to embrace sustainable consumption practices. He noted that every unused garment represents a valuable resource that can be reused, recycled or repurposed, and encouraged every household to participate in the circular economy by giving their unused clothes a new life.
A key implementation partner, ReFiber, operates a digital platform that converts post-consumer textile waste into verified circular outcomes through household collections, digital traceability and upcycling. Working closely with Tisser, which supports more than 20,000 women artisans across India, the campaign aims to collect 20,000 kilograms of unused garments and textile waste. The collected materials will be sorted, repurposed and transformed into new products, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities while reducing environmental impact.
Consumers can conveniently schedule doorstep collection of unused garments through the ReFiber mobile application, making participation in the circular fashion movement simple and accessible.
Naveen Sainani, Hon. General Secretary and Chairman – ESG Committee, CMAI, emphasized that circularity can only succeed when industry, communities and consumers work together. He noted that the initiative not only prevents textile waste from reaching landfills but also strengthens an ecosystem that creates meaningful employment opportunities through reuse and upcycling while delivering environmental, economic and social benefits.
The garment collection drive marks another important milestone in CMAI’s sustainability journey and supports India’s transition towards a circular textile economy. By bringing together industry leaders, international development organisations, civil society and consumers, the initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of circular practices across the apparel value chain.
As India celebrates Independence Day, CMAI has invited citizens across the country to donate unused garments and contribute towards a cleaner environment, empowered communities and a more sustainable future for the nation’s textile and apparel industry.
