‘Dress Recycling’ for a More Resilient Economy (Arab World): An SDG Case Study

The global fashion industry, propelled by the fast fashion model, faces an escalating waste crisis with severe environmental and social consequences. This paper examines the critical role of dress recycling as a targeted intervention within the broader textile waste landscape, arguing for its viability as a scalable solution. Through a detailed case study of the "My Clothes" initiative in Abu Dhabi, UAE is a non-profit application in the Arab world specialising in dress lifecycle management—the study demonstrates a practical closed-loop system for collection, sorting, and redistribution. The analysis highlights the model’s holistic impact and it's one of the main approaches for creating significant diversion of waste from landfills, reduction in carbon and water footprints, creation of green jobs, and fostering of community engagement. Furthermore, the paper explores how Industry 4.0 technologies—such as AI, blockchain, and digital twinning—can revolutionise waste management by enabling transparency, efficiency, and circularity across the fashion supply chain. By integrating empirical data from the case study with a review of global waste challenges and technological innovations, this research positions dedicated recycling programs, supported by digital transformation, as essential strategies for advancing sustainable fashion, promoting environmental justice, and achieving the targets outlined in UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.