What does this research mean for the field?

Waste-to-wear business models in the Indian garment industry are commercially viable and scalable when supported by bootstrapping strategies, quality certification, and targeted consumer communication, with consumer awareness acting as the strongest predictor of purchase intent. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate how textile recycling business models can be implemented and scaled in the Indian garment industry.

May 16, 2026Open Access

From Waste to Wear: Evaluating the Feasibility and Scalability of Textile Recycling and WastetoWear Business Models in the Indian Garment Industry

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate how textile recycling business models can be implemented and scaled in the Indian garment industry.
Used the Business Model Canvas framework and bootstrapping theory.
Collected primary data from 101 respondents using a structured questionnaire.
Analyzed data through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and one-way ANOVA.
Consumer awareness is the strongest predictor of purchase intent (r = .509, p < .001).
The four predictor variables explain 35.3% of the variance in purchase behavior (R² = .353).
Primary adoption barriers include perceived quality concerns, pricing sensitivity, and limited retail access.

Abstract

The global textile industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation, generating an estimated 92 million tonnes of solid waste annually. Amid growing regulatory pressure and shifting consumer values, circular economy-based waste-to-wear business models have emerged as a viable pathway for transforming textile waste into value-added products. This study examines the feasibility and scalability of such models within the Indian garment industry, with specific reference to Shri Pranav Textile Creations Private Limited, a textile manufacturer based in Karur, Tamil Nadu. Grounded in the Business Model Canvas (BMC) framework and bootstrapping theory, the research evaluates nine key business dimensions — customer segments, value propositions, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structures — to assess how waste-to-wear operations can be structured and scaled sustainably. Primary data were collected from 101 respondents through a structured questionnaire covering six constructs: Consumer Awareness and Attitudes (CAA), Purchase Intent and Behaviour (PIB), Perceived Quality and Value (PQV), Barriers to Adoption (BA), Business Model and Scalability (BMS), and Circular Economy and Sustainability Impact (CESI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and one-way ANOVA. Key findings indicate that consumer awareness is the strongest predictor of purchase intent (r = .509, p < .001), and together the four predictor variables explain 35.3% of the variance in purchase behaviour (R² = .353). Perceived quality concerns, pricing sensitivity, and limited retail access emerged as the primary adoption barriers. The study concludes that waste-to-wear models are commercially viable and environmentally impactful when supported by bootstrapping strategies, quality certification, targeted consumer communication, and collaborative stakeholder partnerships.

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