From Waste to Wear: Evaluating the Feasibility and Scalability of Textile Recycling and Waste-To-Wear Business Models in the Indian Garment Industry

The global textile industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation, generating an estimated 92 million tonnes of solid waste annually. Amid growing regulatory pressure and shifting consumer values,
circular economy-based waste-to-wear business models have emerged as a viable pathway for transforming textile waste into value-added products.
This study examines the feasibility and scalability of such models within the Indian garment industry, with specific reference to Shri Pranav Textile Creations Private Limited, a textile manufacturer based in Karur, Tamil
Nadu. Grounded in the Business Model Canvas (BMC) framework and bootstrapping theory, the research evaluates nine key business dimensions — customer segments, value propositions, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost
structures — to assess how waste-to-wear operations can be structured and scaled sustainably.
Primary data were collected from 101 respondents through a structured questionnaire covering six constructs: Consumer Awareness and Attitudes (CAA), Purchase Intent and Behaviour (PIB), Perceived Quality and Value (PQV), Barriers to Adoption (BA), Business Model and Scalability (BMS),
and Circular Economy and Sustainability Impact (CESI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and one-way ANOVA. Key findings indicate that consumer awareness is the strongest predictor of purchase intent (r = .509, p < .001), and together the four predictor variables explain 35.3% of the variance in purchase behaviour (R² = .353). Perceived quality concerns, pricing sensitivity, and limited retail access emerged as the primary adoption
barriers. The study concludes that waste-to-wear models are commercially viable and environmentally impactful when
supported by bootstrapping strategies, quality certification, targeted consumer communication, and collaborative stakeholder partnerships.