Circularity in Textiles: From Buzzword to Business Advantage

The Circle Is the Future- Linear systems are dying.

- By Parvinder Singh, Founder, Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability Council (GATS)

In a world facing resource depletion, price volatility, and tightening international regulations, the old take-make-dispose” model of textile production is rapidly becoming obsolete.

Enter circularity — not merely a sustainability buzzword, but a serious business strategy.

Circularity in textiles means keeping materials and value in use for as long as possible — through smarter design, reuse, recycling, and responsible end-of-life management.”

For the Indian textile industry — the third-largest textile manufacturing hub globally — circularity isn't just a climate commitment. It's a chance to build a resilient, profitable, and future-ready industry that addresses global demand for waste-free and responsibly sourced fashion.

What Is a Circular Textile Economy?

A circular economy in textiles means:

• Designing out waste and pollution
• Keeping products and materials in use
• Regenerating natural systems
• That means every garment should be designed to last, produced with minimal waste, used for as long as possible, and recycled or upcycled at the end of its life — forming a closed-loop system.

The Circular Fashion Loop

Why Linear Models Are No Longer Competitive

Circularity in Practice: 4 Pillars for Execution

Let's break this into four industry-applicable focus areas:

1 Circular Design

The first and most powerful intervention point.