Asia’s upcycled clothing: Dawn of a recreating era
29 Jan 20244 min read
Summary
- The Asian up‑cycled clothing sector is growing rapidly, with SMEs estimated to generate around US$17 billion annually and projected to expand by more than 50 % over the next five years.
- The supply chain is being reshaped by ethical sourcing, sustainable manufacturing technologies (including 3D‑printing) and circular‑economy practices where used garments are repurposed into new items like quilts and apparel.
- Up‑cycling offers both cost and environmental benefits—for example producing a recycled polyester garment uses 59 % less energy and 70 % less water—and aligns well with the preferences of increasingly eco‑aware consumers.
From trash to new, upcycling clothes has ushered the dawn of stringent profitable ventures in Asia. With people leaning toward sustainable solutions to reduce fashion waste, the traditional fashion supply chain was reimagined. Now, repurposing trash offers a unique business opportunity to entrepreneurs.
According to The State of Fashion 2022, over 80% of upcycled fashion brands in Asia are owned and managed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with an estimated annual reach of $17 billion. This figure is expected to surge in the next five years, with growth that can exceed 50%.
Mainly, the supply chain for Asian clothing focuses on ethical sourcing, sustainable manufacturing, eco-friendly delivery, and circularity. Ethical sourcing includes strict supplier vetting and transparency through technology. Sustainable manufacturing adopts green practices like 3D printing.
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“As retailers learn to leverage consumers’ wants and needs for environmentally sound products it looks like the sustainability trend and creation of upcycled products will be here to stay in the retail industry,” said Greg Petro, Forbes contributor and writer who focuses on investments.
The trend of upcycled clothing industry
In 2021, the OEC, an online data visualization and distribution platform, estimated that 7 million tons of used clothes were imported into Asia, with the majority going to China, India, and Pakistan. These clothes are sorted, repaired, and upcycled into new products, such as quilts, blankets, and clothing.
Asia has become a significant hub for the upcycling of used clothes. At the forefront of the upcycled clothing industry are manufacturers, business owners, and shoppers who are becoming increasingly conscious of sustainable clothing wear.
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"Upcycling of used clothes is a win-win for the environment and for our wallets. It's a great way to reduce waste, save money, and express your unique style." said Mai Ngo, a Vietnamese sustainable fashion model and vlogger.
Localization of fashion supply chain management
Certain brands from across Asia have adopted the concept of upcycling. For example, LeBelik in Beirut, Lebanon is a fashion brand that uses upcycled fabric to create beautiful, sustainable clothing.
Meanwhile, in India, Doodlage works with skilled weavers to create unique products from discarded materials such as cotton, silk, and wool. Japan's Tenbo is another brand that repurposes fabrics into stylish clothing items. The production of each of their garments involves special combination of traditional techniques and innovative designs.
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"Upcycling is a great way to reduce waste and create something new and beautiful at the same time. It's also a lot of fun!" said Vivienne Tam, a Hong Kong-American fashion designer.
Another example is Waste2Wear’s ethical sourcing practices. The company uses a blockchain-based platform to track the flow of materials throughout its supply chain, ensuring that all suppliers meet its high standards for sustainable solutions.
Sustainability and commercialization
Driven by the shift towards sustainability, the apparel sector came up with ways to ushering cost-efficiency. Of which, a study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that upcycling a polyester garment saves 59% of the energy and 70% of the water used to produce a new polyester garment.
For example, the Hong Kong-based company Waste2Wear collects and recycles post-consumer textile waste, turning it into new, high-quality fibers and fabrics. These recycled materials are then used to produce various accessories and clothing, including t-shirts, sweaters, jeans, and jackets.
Meanwhile, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, approximately 40% of Chinese consumers are now looking for green clothing. In turn, businesses, such as China's Sinopec Group aimed at repurposing products for reuse and selling.
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“Technologies are now converging to make this a reality, from efficient recycling and reprocessing to consumer-driven analytics that help retailers create the products customers will want and avoid producing excess inventory of the ones that would just sit on the shelf – and eventually end up in the landfill,” Petro shared.
On fashion supply chain management shift
Upcycling clothes is making waves across supply chains, business landscapes, and consumer markets. It's a game-changer with compelling implications. In particular, upcycling has gained remarkable traction as a strategy to curtail the industry's ecological footprint in the fashion and garments industry.
For supply chains, upcycling equals cost reduction and efficiency boost. Breathing new life into existing components and materials slashes production expenses while curbing waste disposal costs, ticking the sustainability box.
Moreover, eco-friendly delivery reduces carbon emissions and embraces circular distribution. Repurposing involves product design for disassembly, take-back programs, textile recycling, and sustainable solutions like upcycled clothing. Whilst, digital transformation optimizes production and reduces waste.
In turn, entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity. They're crafting businesses around recycled goods, offering top-notch products at competitive prices. As such, upcycling clothing is about building eco-friendly brands that resonate with today's environmentally conscious consumers.