New Delhi, 18th February 2025 – The Ministry of Textiles, through its statutory body, Textiles Committee, has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainable practices in the Indian textile industry by providing certification to upcyclers.
This initiative aims to tackle the growing issue of textile waste and promote Upcycling, the creative transformation of waste materials into products of equal or higher quality.
The Ministry’s efforts are focused on encouraging the government and public sector to source upcycled products and to benefit all sectors of society, especially the many women involved in the industry at all levels, from entrepreneurs to rural SHG groups. While the term upcycling might be a relatively, traditional Indian arts such as Kantha and Godhadi reflect how deeply it is rooted in the Indian tradition. This initiative, as well as Bharat Tex 2025, highlight the Ministry’s commitment to supporting entrepreneural energy as well as the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian arts.
In an effort to increase the visibility of the certified upcyclers, the Secretary of Textiles launched a new dashboard that showcases a state-wise list of registered upcyclers and provides access to their certification details. This portal serves as a valuable tool for ensuring the authenticity and legitimacy of upcycled products, offering greater outreach and recognition for these upcyclers.
Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles) emphasized the key benefits of upcycling and outlined government’s resolve to further support the growth of this sector. She also highlighted the inclusion of upcycling in the Sustainability & Innovation Pavilion (called “Vastra Katha”) at BharatTex 2025 with a dedicated platform to showcase their work and underscore the importance of sustainable practices in the textile industry.
Ms. Sujata, a well-known upcycler from West Bengal, and the first to be certified through this initiative, shared how the certification greatly helped in gaining wider recognition within the industry and beyond.