It is a project born within the framework of the Toolkit Igniting Circular and Sustainable Fashion Through Collaboration of Hecho por Nosotros. The idea is that individuals and organizations, associated with the NGO, can join together to co-create an economic circular model in the fashion industry, by means of sustainable practices. “Challengers” will receive a series of consultancies according to the problems and difficulties that may be found in their respective companies, projects, or “startups”.
We are currently working with four organizations from different parts of the world; from India to Mexico, passing through Argentina. The areas that we address go from the development of sustainable models in the world of textile to the reinvention of recycled material, everything focused to make fashion more sustainable.
Participants
In one of the first stages of this new project, we are working with four organizations. The groups are composed of a project leader, entrepreneurs, and volunteers of HxN, that approach the problem by means of the contribution of ideas, the discussion of postulates, and the ordering towards a real and sustainable solution. Our participant organizations are:
Mitimeth-It is a company that creates and manufactures handmade products from natural fibers that otherwise would be considered waste or threats to the environment. Thus we have the use of aquatic weeds or some agricultural waste. By means of an own technique and of local work, they transform these materials into furniture or unique pieces for the home.
MitiMeth also develops training programs for members of the community. The organization helps participants find alternative revenue and generate opportunities using the resources around them. The workshops are funded through partnerships with public and private sector institutions, who want to see a positive return in the lives of apprentices.
Novabori
This company works on creating fabrics for the fashion industry, using a different way of thinking and working. Beyond an exposition of business, NOVABORI looked to develop ideas for the care of the planet and the people. In this task, they realized that there was a huge gap between the development of the fashion industry and the recycling of it.
On the other hand, the organization took note of the differences that are created in the preparation of a garment, from the color, design, the added value, the product diversity, and the desire to purchase. In all these aspects, the recycling industry is losing the battle against the fashion industry, the reason why it must try to close or to shorten these barriers that separate them. It is also important that you become aware of the life cycle of a product, as it is always much longer in the recycling industry than in the fashion industry.
Reciclarg
They aim to raise public awareness of the negative impact of electronic waste on the environment, the reason why it is necessary to eradicate them from landfills. On the other hand, they have set the task of reducing the digital gap that occurs between those who cannot access a computer to connect with the rest of the world.
The idea of Reciclarg is to revolutionize the fashion world, promoting the use of different materials from e-waste. The idea is to show the community that the environment can be helped in different forms, for example, extending the life utility of products. The final mission of the company is to decontaminate the communities that are themselves affected by electronic waste through the circular economy model.
Conserve India
This company is born from the desire to reduce the "mountain" of waste found in India, improve energy efficiency, and help the most vulnerable people in Delhi's neighborhoods. Conserve India has the aim to transform all the plastic bags into high fashion products.
Although the company began as a basic recycling project, it quickly had to change its idea and work to slow down the build-up of plastic bags that could not be composted, or recycled locally. For this reason, after much work, the Conserve team focused its work, not only on recycling but on transforming that material, by hand, into handbags, wallets, shoes, or belts, whose profits are invested in education and well-being of the communities.
Today, the company employs and trains hundreds of people from Delhi's most disadvantaged communities, who clean the streets of plastic bag waste that accumulates.
All and each one of our challenges seeks to improve the execution of their products and generate ideas of new ways to help the environment. In addition, in the project, we look forward to promoting the training of artisans, designers, and entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized businesses, through a platform in which our collaborators advocate to work with techniques of circular design.
For more information or interest in how you can participate, visit our site at https://sites.google.com/view/hxnignitechallenges/challenge-4?authuser=0