ReFiber and Textile Recovery Facility Sign Letter of Intent (LoI) to Strengthen Digital Collection of Used Clothes in India
Partnership aims to improve technology-led collection of post-consumer textiles and support India's circular textile economy through organised recovery pathways.
ReFiber, a technology-enabled post-consumer textile collection and recovery company powered by OterRi, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Textile Recovery Facility (TRF), Belapur, Navi Mumbai, to strengthen technology-led digital collection of used clothes and create more structured pathways for post-consumer textiles to enter the recovery ecosystem.
The LoI was signed on behalf of ReFiber by Mr. Manoj Wanvari, COO, ReFiber, powered by OterRi, in the presence of Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, and Ms. Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner.
Collaboration Focuses on Strengthening Textile Circularity
The signing marks a step in ReFiber's efforts to strengthen the first mile of textile circularity through the organised collection of post-consumer textiles and their movement towards repurposing, upcycling and recycling.
The event took place at the Textile Recovery Facility in Belapur alongside the inauguration of the Mati thrift store, an initiative under Punarsutra – Crafting Circular Change.
As part of initiatives promoting circularity in post-consumer textiles, the Textiles Committee, in collaboration with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), SBI Foundation, IDH India and Tisser Artisan Trust, is implementing a project focused on managing post-consumer textiles across the NMMC area.
The initiative aims to:
- Cover a population of approximately 16 lakh people
- Create thousands of livelihood opportunities
- Enable the conversion of post-consumer textiles into sustainable textiles
- Contribute to a stronger Circular Textile Economy
ReFiber's Digital Collection Model
ReFiber launched its technology-led post-consumer textile collection initiative on 5 June 2026, coinciding with World Environment Day, with the objective of making the collection of old and discarded clothes more accessible, organised and traceable.
Its collection model includes:
- Scheduled doorstep collection
- Digital verification
- Tracking of collected textiles
The company stated that these systems are intended to improve visibility across the collection process while directing textiles towards suitable reuse, upcycling and recycling pathways.
ReFiber has also launched its Upcycle Marketplace, designed to facilitate the transformation of recovered textiles into upcycled products and create additional opportunities for textiles to re-enter productive use.
Statements from Stakeholders
Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Textiles, said, “The exchange of the Letter of Intent between TRF, Navi Mumbai and ReFiber for the digital collection of used clothes is a commendable initiative and an important step towards strengthening India’s Circular Textile Economy. I appreciate this collaborative effort to bring greater organisation and technology into the collection and recovery of post-consumer textiles.”
Ms. Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner, Maharashtra Government, said, “India’s transition towards a circular textile economy requires stronger systems for the collection and recovery of post-consumer textiles. ReFiber’s technology-led approach is a commendable step towards making textile collection more organised, accessible and traceable. Such collaborations are important in creating a more connected ecosystem where used textiles can be channelled towards reuse, upcycling and recycling, rather than being lost from the circular economy.”
Shri Shrikant Bhangdiya, Chairman, ReFiber, said, “We are grateful to Shri Giriraj Singh ji and extend our special thanks to Ms. Vrunda Manohar Desai ji for encouraging this collaboration and for recognising the importance of organised post-consumer textile collection. At ReFiber, we believe that building a circular textile economy requires us to strengthen the journey of a garment from the point of disposal onwards. This Letter of Intent is an important step in that direction. We look forward to working with the Textile Recovery Facility and our ecosystem partners to make technology-led collection more accessible and take this model to more cities and communities across India.”
Industry and Government Stakeholders Attend the Event
The programme brought together representatives from the Ministry of Textiles, Textiles Committee, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, and stakeholders from the textile circularity ecosystem.
Among those present were:
- Dr. Tapan Kumar Rout, Director, Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
- Dr. Kailas Shinde, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC)
- Dr. Megha Phansalkar, Founder, Tisser Artisan Trust
- Mr. Manoj Wanvari, COO, ReFiber
Expanding India's Textile Recovery Network
The Mati store at TRF Belapur adds a reuse-focused element to the Punarsutra initiative, while ReFiber's technology-led collection model addresses the collection stage before recovery.
According to the announcement, the partnership aims to strengthen the textile circularity ecosystem by creating responsible pathways for pre-owned clothing and recovered textiles. Through the LoI, ReFiber plans to expand collaborations and develop a scalable and accountable post-consumer textile collection network across India, supporting greater reuse, upcycling and recycling of textiles.