Kiwi Startup Gives New Zealand’s Textile Waste a New Life Through Recycling Partnership with India
Auckland, New Zealand: In a significant step toward sustainable textile management, a New Zealand startup is transforming the way unwanted clothing and fabric waste are handled. The company, named After, is helping divert textile waste from landfills by collecting damaged, unsellable, and unwanted textiles and sending them to India for recycling into new yarn and home furnishing products.
The initiative was founded by entrepreneur Yesha Patel, who launched the business five years ago after realizing there were very few options available for disposing of worn-out clothing responsibly. The idea emerged during a wardrobe clean-out when Patel found herself with a pile of garments that could neither be worn nor donated.
Since its launch, After has grown rapidly and now works with approximately 300 businesses across Australia and New Zealand. The company also offers collection services for households, making it easier for people to recycle unwanted fabrics rather than sending them to landfill. To date, the company has collected more than 140 tonnes of textile waste.
One of After’s key partners is Yours Truly Bridal, an Auckland-based bridal store that generates fabric waste during the dress-making and design process. According to the company, significant amounts of fabric scraps, sample materials, and leftover pieces are produced during garment production. By partnering with After, the bridal retailer estimates it has prevented around 120 kilograms of textile waste from reaching landfills within the last year.
The collected materials are carefully sorted and compressed before being shipped to a certified textile recycling facility in India. There, the discarded textiles are shredded into fibers, processed into a soft material, and then spun into recycled yarn. The resulting yarn is used to manufacture a range of home furnishing products, including rugs, carpets, cushion covers, and other decorative items.
The initiative has also attracted support from second-hand clothing businesses. ReCircle, a company that sells pre-owned clothing on behalf of customers, uses After’s services to recycle garments that are unsuitable for resale. Rather than disposing of damaged or unsellable items, the company sends them for textile recycling, contributing to a more circular economy.
Textile waste has become an increasing environmental concern worldwide. In New Zealand alone, an estimated 180 tonnes of textile waste are sent to landfills every year. A substantial portion of this waste comes from donated clothing that charity shops and second-hand stores are unable to sell.
Industry experts believe that recycling initiatives such as After can play a crucial role in reducing environmental impacts while creating valuable secondary raw materials for the textile industry. By converting waste textiles into reusable yarn, companies can reduce landfill dependency, lower resource consumption, and support sustainable manufacturing practices.
As demand for environmentally responsible solutions continues to grow, After plans to expand its operations across New Zealand. The company hopes its model will encourage more businesses and consumers to participate in textile recycling and help build a more sustainable future for the fashion and textile industry.
With global attention increasingly focused on circular economy practices, initiatives like After demonstrate how innovative partnerships can turn textile waste into valuable resources while supporting sustainability goals across international markets.
