Rewoven

Reimagining textile waste

Rewoven collects textile waste from garment manufacturers, putting it into various recycling loops where it is processed into fibre. Rewoven diverts textile waste produced by clothing manufacturers from landfill in Cape Town by recycling and upcycling. They collect a range of raw materials: off-cut fabric, end-of-roll fabric, clothing rejects and unsold inventory. The fabrics are then sorted into two different processes. Domestically recycled textile waste fibres are processed in South Africa and used as filling materials, construction insulation, disaster relief blankets and so on. 100% recycled fabrics are processed by Rewoven’s R&D partner in India – although their ultimate plan is to set up recycling facilities in South Africa.

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Rewoven

Circular Strategy

Use waste as a resource, Rethink the business model, Collaborate to create joint value

Sustainable Development Goals

9Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

12Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

"The future of fashion depends on building an ecosystem. We won't get there unless we get everyone in the industry together.”-Esethu

The Opportunity

The fashion industry in South Africa has high job creation potential, especially in the textile sector. However, about half of these manufacturers either dump at landfills, burn or sludge their waste fabric. Until now, there has simply been no recycling on a significant scale.

The Story

Rewoven was founded in 2018 by Tshepo Bhengu, Esethu Cenga and Lonwabo Mgoduso. After finishing university, they knew they wanted to make an impact in the fashion industry. They had the idea that textile recycling was going to be both a massive business and job creation opportunity.

They joined an incubation programme run by the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation during which they did research to understand the industry and its challenges. Rewoven began operations in 2020.

The Solution

Rewoven diverts textile waste produced by clothing manufacturers from landfill in Cape Town by recycling and upcycling. They collect a range of raw materials: off-cut fabric, end-of-roll fabric, clothing rejects, and unsold inventory. The fabrics are then sorted into two different processes.

Domestically recycled textile waste fibres are processed in South Africa and used as filling materials, construction insulation, disaster relief blankets and so on. 100% recycled fabrics are processed by Rewoven’s R&D partner in India – although their ultimate plan is to set up recycling facilities in South Africa. The team at Rewoven is also doing further research to understand the journey and impact of fashion waste.

In 2020 they launched Future of Fashion, a sustainable fashion indaba dedicated to enabling collaborative knowledge-sharing that can help the development of a thriving, inclusive, ethical and future-fit local fashion industry.

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