TEXTILE REUSE AND UPCYCLING
PILOT PROJECT
GARSON & SHAW ALWAYS SEEKS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TEXTILE REUSE.
FOR A GREENER & MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD.
Firmly committed to building a more sustainable world, one that is more conscious of our textile consumption, Garson & Shaw Central America has started a project in Costa Rica focused on textile upcycling; called: TEXTILE REUSE AND UPCYCLING PILOT PROJECT; in partnership with the National Learning Institute (INA) and Téikiq, a Costa Rican technological innovation cluster. This project seeks to raise environmental awareness and to create a sustainable textile cooperative based on the concept of upcycling, thereby contributing to the reuse of clothing, generating income for local communities.
Since 2023, Garson & Shaw Central America, established in Costa Rica, has been dedicated to promoting and supporting social projects which seek to generate wellbeing in local communities and to educate and inform on the importance of textile reuse and how the secondhand clothing industry boosts the protection of the natural resources and the generation of social well-being worldwide. That’s why this upcycling project, with social and environmental purpose, is a fundamental part of the work being done in the Central American country.
WHAT IS UPCYCLING?
It is the process of transforming worn or unwanted products into new items giving them greater artistic and environmental value.
It is no secret how the fast fashion industry pollutes the environment by abusing the use of natural resources to make its thousands of textile collections per year.
FAST FASHION IS DESTROYING THE PLANET!
DID YOU KNOW?
THE FAST FASHION INDUSTRY USES AROUND 10,000 LITERS OF WATER IN THE MANUFACTURING OF A T-SHIRT AND A PAIR OF PANTS.
This behavior is destroying our planet! As a society we need to join forces in the search for environmentally friendly consumption with the planet. A 10% INCREASE IN THE REUSE OF SECONDHAND CLOTHING COULD REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS PER TON OF NEW CLOTHING PRODUCED BY 3% AND THE WATER USED BY 4%. Upcycling is an important and strategic ally in the used clothing chain, as it allows the reuse of textiles, giving them greater commercial value while avoiding textile waste.
TEXTILE REUSE AND UPCYCLING PILOT PROJECT
In this upcycling project, Garson & Shaw is a fundamental ally of the participating community, serving as a bridge between local companies who DONATE SECONDHAND CLOTHING to this group so they have the material to work with and transform into new textile products.
Additionally, Garson & Shaw provides ongoing support by offering informational talks about the textile industry, clothing sorting workshops, conferences on the positive impact of clothing reuse, and promotion of the products created by participants for commercialization in Costa Rica through fairs, secondhand clothing stores, online sales, and partnerships with supermarkets.
As a key partner, we have the National Institute of Learning (INA), which seeks to promote vocational training and certification services that facilitate employability, social mobility, and the dignity of technical human talent, as well as productivity, entrepreneurship, and business development. Therefore, their continued support is essential. Participants will have the opportunity to develop their products using the tools offered by INA through its educational programs and facilities.
Our second partner is Téikiq, Technological Innovation Cluster dedicated to training and implementing programs that promote technological and digital innovation in the northern part of the country, boosting the business development of local communities.
THE FIRST STEPS:
For the development of this project, an initial planning phase was carried out, in which the lines of work, purposes, and objectives were outlined in conjunction with the INA and Teikiq. A public informational webinar was then held, in which attendees received information about the project and the used clothing industry, in addition to learning more about the stakeholders involved.
You can watch the webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg1D4UeFlcI&t=4932s
Following this, an educational and participatory workshop called: Product Design from Textile Reuse, was held at the INA-La Marina facilities. Lectures on upcycling were offered, as well as talks by INA former students who already upcycle professionally. A practical workshop was held, where participants unleashed their creativity creating unique pieces utilizing the upcycling concept.
“The idea is to create new products from used clothing… and we can reuse and make new things to sell to improve our quality of life” Ileana Molina Blanco, workshop participant.
“We’ve learned a lot. Having testimonials from people who already use upcycling and have conscious fashion… inspires us a lot. Personally, I feel very inspired and eager to get home and start putting everything we learned into practice” Kimberly Morales, workshop participant.
Take a look at what the workshop was like:
The project was officially launched with the workshop, which will include an initial phase where participants will develop a real business idea, demonstrating that reusing clothing not only protects the environment but also creates business opportunities.
Garson & Shaw aims to establish this TEXTILE REUSE AND UPCYCLING group as an example for neighboring countries. This community will have the opportunity to generate income for their households, serving as a business model that creates social impact at both local and national levels, integrating a specific community into the circular economy chain.