LocationsTurning Fabric Scraps into Tomorrow's Trend
Innovative youth solutions from the National Dialogue China 2024
With the rise of convenience and easy access to clothing—especially through online shopping platforms—excess fabrics often end up with nowhere to go, ultimately becoming waste. Textile waste has low recycling rates and is considered one of the largest contributors to global water pollution and land use.
Lifecycle of Fabric Waste
Formed by students at Northwestern Polytechnic University, "Looping" shares a passion for sustainable fashion.
Their journey began six years ago when team members Min Zhao and Zhaolun Wang visited a waste disposal site and discovered a truckload of discarded textiles was being sent to landfills every second, only to be incinerated. "After the visit, I learned that the textile industry is the second largest polluting industry in the world, with high water consumption, waste rates, and carbon emissions," Min shared.
For instance, producing a single pair of jeans emits 50 kilograms of carbon dioxide and requires 7,500 liters of water, equivalent to one person’s water consumption for seven years. Motivated by this, Min turned a jacket into a tote bag and the idea for Looping was born.
Design For the People, Remake for the World
The establishment of Looping, sparked a philosophy of "design for the people, remake for the world," said Min. Almost no new fabric is used in the entire process, which not only reduces waste but also cuts done on water and fuel consumption, she added.
With China standing as the world's largest textile producers, reaching a market value of $303 billion in 2022, it is critical to ensure environmentally friendly production practices. [1]
In response, Looping has already upcycled more than 5,000 pieces of used clothing to date.
So far, Looping has collaborated with national fashion chains, and international fashion brands. The group has also conducted workshops to promote upcycling and held sales events in Beijing, Hubei, Shanghai, and Xi'an.
Their WeChat mini-program helps users recycle old clothes, learn DIY techniques, and explore brand collaborations. Acting as an integrated platform that combines design customization and fashion product integration, it shows how old garments can gain new life, helping reduce pollution and advocating for a more circular approach to fashion.
While the 18-28 age group remains their main audience due to heightened environmental consciousness in that demographic, they see growing interest among 35-55-year-olds as well.
The Uphill Battle for Sustainable Fashion Advocacy
Sustainable fashion remains a niche market in China, with most participants being small studios and individual designers who focus on redesigning and repurposing old clothes or unsold inventory.
Additionally, "the consumer’s understanding of sustainable fashion is still limited—many perceive it as simple clothing alteration rather than a new and conscious consumer choice, with a preference for fast fashion dominating the market," Min explained.
Looping’s efforts to spread awareness include visiting shops in Shanghai, Wuhan, and Xi’an to introduce sustainable fashion concepts, showcase products, and discuss consignment sales partnerships. By identifying what resonates with shop owners such as fashion trends, environmental awareness, and creative design, the business inspires more people to embrace sustainable fashion and fosters more collaboration.
"Internationally, the acceptance and preference for sustainable fashion are significantly higher. To expand visibility and tap into foreign markets, the team visited Kyoto, Japan, where they exchanged design concepts with trend-focused shop owners, leading to sales orders and personalized customization services," Min elaborated.
Efforts to enhance recycling channels and outlets include holding old clothes recycling workshops and raising public awareness. These initiatives encourage more people to learn about, participate in, and support sustainable fashion, fostering a growing movement toward environmental responsibility.
"Environmental protection starts with ‘what you wear'."
Besides identifying customer groups and conducting thorough research on their needs, preferences, and expectation, as well as analyzing competitors' product features, pricing strategies, and opportunities for differentiation, the key advice from Looping is "dare to think, dare to venture, and dare to act."
"Once you have an idea, immediately find ways to implement it. It might be tough and exhausting, and you might not succeed in the end, but the journey and the friends you make along the way are the most valuable assets," Min advised.
[1] Textiles in China: https://shorturl.at/Bl2SM
Note: Looping was one of the many innovative youth teams that showcased their solutions and participated in the 2024 National Dialogue China. Visit the National Dialogue for more information.
This article does not represent an endorsement of any commercial or private enterprise.
About National Dialogue
National Dialogues are flagship country-level events of Youth Co:Lab, co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation, which bring together youth leaders and stakeholders to build capacities, foster innovation, and co-create solutions to national development challenges, while strengthening coalitions and shaping an enabling ecosystem. As the largest youth movement for empowerment, social entrepreneurship, equality, and social inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region, Youth Co:Lab has supported young people in 28 countries and territories, reaching over 300,000 participants.
At the national level, the National Dialogue China is co-hosted by UNDP, the China Song Ching Ling Science & Culture Centre for Young People (SCLSCC), and Citi China. Held annually, the event aims to empower Chinese youth to contribute to achieving the SDGs through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Over the past six years, the National Dialogue China has supported more than 300 Chinese youth-led start-ups, offering professional mentorship from experts across impact funds, incubators, and academia, while enhancing their access to funding opportunities from industry partners.
Every year, outstanding teams from the National Dialogue China are selected to join other teams from National Dialogues across the region at the Youth Co:Lab Summit, the largest gathering of youth social entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific region. They present their innovative business solutions alongside peers from other countries and territories, showcasing how youth can drive a green and just transition through social innovation and entrepreneurship.
