ReFiber and TRF Advance Digital Textile Recovery in India
Technology-enabled post-consumer textile collection company ReFiber, powered by OterRi, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Textile Recovery Facility (TRF), Belapur, Navi Mumbai.
The partnership aims to strengthen digital collection and recovery systems for used clothing. It will also create more organised pathways for discarded textiles to move towards reuse, repurposing, upcycling and recycling.
The LoI was signed by Manoj Wanvari, COO, ReFiber, in the presence of Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, and Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner.
Partnership Targets the First Mile of Textile Circularity
The collaboration focuses on the first stage of textile circularity, where effective collection can determine whether used clothing enters productive recovery channels.
Through better organised systems, ReFiber and TRF aim to improve the movement of post-consumer textiles from collection points to appropriate reuse, upcycling and recycling pathways.
The signing took place at TRF Belapur alongside the inauguration of the Mati thrift store, an initiative under Punarsutra – Crafting Circular Change.
The project is being implemented by the Textiles Committee in collaboration with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, SBI Foundation, IDH India and Tisser Artisan Trust.
Mati Initiative Targets 16 Lakh People
The wider initiative focuses on post-consumer textile management across the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) area.
It aims to reach approximately 16 lakh people while creating livelihood opportunities and supporting the conversion of recovered textiles into sustainable textile products.
The Mati thrift store adds a reuse-focused channel to the initiative. Meanwhile, ReFiber’s collection platform addresses the stage that comes before recovery.
ReFiber Expands Technology-Led Textile Collection
ReFiber launched its technology-enabled collection initiative on 5 June 2026, World Environment Day.
The platform aims to make used clothing disposal and collection more accessible, organised and traceable.
Through scheduled doorstep collection, digital verification and tracking, ReFiber creates greater visibility across the collection process. The company can then direct recovered textiles towards suitable reuse, upcycling and recycling channels.
In addition, ReFiber has introduced an Upcycle Marketplace. The platform provides opportunities to turn recovered textiles into new upcycled products.
Industry Leaders Support Digital Textile Recovery
Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Textiles, welcomed the collaboration. He described the digital collection initiative as an important step towards strengthening India’s Circular Textile Economy while bringing greater organisation and technology to post-consumer textile recovery.
Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner, Maharashtra Government, highlighted the need for stronger collection and recovery systems as India moves towards a circular textile economy.
She also noted that technology-led collection can make textile recovery more organised, accessible and traceable.
Shrikant Bhangdiya, Chairman, ReFiber, said the company aims to strengthen the journey of garments after disposal. He also highlighted plans to make technology-led collection more accessible and expand the model across more Indian cities and communities.
Institutional Collaboration Supports Circularity
The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Textiles, Textiles Committee, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and other stakeholders working on textile circularity.
Dr Tapan Kumar Rout, Director, Textiles Committee, also attended the event, highlighting the importance of institutional collaboration in building stronger textile recovery systems.
The participation of Dr Kailas Shinde, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, further highlighted the role of municipal bodies in organised post-consumer textile collection and recovery.
Dr Megha Phansalkar, Founder, Tisser Artisan Trust, was also recognised for her continued support of ReFiber’s textile collection and circularity initiatives.
ReFiber Plans Scalable Textile Collection Network
The partnership connects different stages of the textile circularity ecosystem.
Mati creates a channel for reuse, while ReFiber strengthens the collection process that enables recovery. Together, these efforts can help improve the movement of discarded textiles into productive second-life applications.
Through the LoI, ReFiber plans to strengthen collaborations and develop a scalable and accountable post-consumer textile collection network across India.
The initiative aims to ensure that more discarded textiles enter productive reuse, upcycling and recycling pathways instead of becoming waste.
