Traditional Indian Textile Techniques Used to Upcycle and Recycle Textile Waste

Abstract

The current study focuses on reviewing different traditionally practiced Indian textiles techniques used to upcycle and recycle textile waste, including fabric waste, rejected garments, used garments and fabrics, finished and processed textile products and other kinds of hard textile waste. The findings reveal that many artisans, weavers, craftspeople, self-help groups, and fashion and textile designers from different Indian states are practicing many traditional textile techniques to recycle and up-cycle textile waste. Among these techniques, the famous techniques identified include Kantha of West Bengal, Sujani of Bihar, Kathputlis of Northern Indian states, Panja Dari of Haryana, Namda and Gabba of Kashmir, Kausti of Karnataka, Patchwork and Chindi Rugs. There exists a strong need to make people aware of the methods of recycling textiles that not just increase manufactured textile product life cycle but also contribute towards a sustainable future of the fashion and textile industry in a developing country like India. It has been observed that these techniques play a crucial role in converting textile waste into creative functional products, thus silently contributing to the sustainable future of the textile industry. The objective of this study is to summarize and publicize the methods of these traditionally practiced Indian textile techniques used to recycle and upcycle tonnes of textile waste produced every year. It was found that these traditionally practiced recycling and upcycling techniques of various Indian states are contributing silently to the sustainable future of the Indian textile industry. The recycling of old cloth not just increases the product life cycle but also provides employment to millions of people.

Keywords

• recycling waste
• traditional textile techniques
• upcycling
• fabric waste