Every Garment Tells a Story: Textile Commissioner Vrunda Desai Launches ReFiber & OterRi Initiative to Transform Textile Waste into Opportunity
Mumbai : On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, ReFiber, powered by OterRi, took a significant step towards building a sustainable future by launching Mumbai’s Mega Post-Consumer Textile Waste Collection & Upcycling Initiative. The landmark initiative aims to create a robust circular textile ecosystem by collecting, recovering and upcycling post-consumer textile waste while generating meaningful environmental and social impact.
As part of the initiative, ReFiber conducted a city-wide textile collection drive from June 5–12, encouraging Mumbaikars to donate used garments through the Oterri app. By making textile donation simple and accessible in today’s digital world, the initiative not only helped reduce textile waste but also created employment opportunities for women artisans who transformed discarded fabrics into creative products, turning every donation into a positive impact for both people and the planet.
The unveiling of the ReFiber Upcycled Products Marketplace showcasing handcrafted products created by women artisans associated with Tisser. The platform is designed to convert textile waste into products of value while enabling sustainable livelihoods and empowering self-help groups across the country.
The event also featured insightful discussions on technology-driven solutions for textile waste management, accelerating circularity in India’s textile sector and building partnerships for a zero-waste future.
On the occasion, Ms. Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner, Maharashtra Government, said, “India has made significant progress in textile recycling and circularity, but there is still immense potential to recover and repurpose post-consumer textile waste from our households. Initiatives like ReFiber’s collection and upcycling drive demonstrate how collaboration between government, industry and citizens can transform textile waste into a valuable resource while creating sustainable livelihoods. Through greater awareness, innovation and participation, we can accelerate the transition towards a more circular and sustainable textile ecosystem”
Dr. Megha Phansalkar, Founder, Tisser, said, “At Tisser, we believe that waste is simply a resource waiting to be reimagined. Through textile upcycling, we are transforming discarded fabrics into products of value while creating livelihood opportunities and empowering women. Initiatives like ReFiber make it easier for citizens to participate in the circular economy and contribute meaningfully towards reducing textile waste. Building a sustainable future requires collective action, and every garment diverted from landfill is a step towards a more responsible and circular world.”
Mr. Manoj Wanvari, COO, ReFiber and OterRi, said, “The launch of ReFiber marks the beginning of a collective movement towards a more circular and responsible textile ecosystem. Through our technology platform, collection network and partnerships across the value chain, we aim to make textile waste recovery simple, accessible and impactful for every citizen. What is often perceived as waste is, in reality, a valuable resource that can be recovered, upcycled and brought back into the economy. With ReFiber, we are enabling consumers to play an active role in reducing textile waste while supporting sustainable livelihoods and accelerating circularity in the textile sector.”
Sanjay Kataria, President, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), said, “This initiative is not just about collecting used garments, it is about creating a movement that transforms waste into opportunity. By bringing together industry, government, civil society and citizens, we are taking a meaningful step towards building a circular textile ecosystem that reduces landfill waste, conserves resources and empowers women through upcycling. At CMAI, we believe sustainability and growth must go hand in hand, and we are proud to support an initiative that creates both environmental and social impact.”
As Mumbai embarks on this city-wide movement, the initiative serves as a powerful example of how collaboration between government, industry, development organizations and citizens can drive meaningful environmental and social change. By transforming discarded textiles into opportunities for circularity, innovation and livelihood creation, ReFiber and its partners are laying the foundation for a more sustainable future where waste is not discarded, but reimagined as a valuable resource.
