Circular Material Innovations in Textiles: Designing for Recycling and Reusability in the Indian Context

ABSTRACT The shift toward a circular economy is crucial for addressing India's burgeoning environmental crises and resource paucity, especially within the fashion and textile industry. This study investigates circular substance innovations with a focus on designing for reuse and recycling in fashion products, aiming to lessen waste and heighten resource efficiency. It explores the evolution and application of sustainable fabric materials that can be reintegrated into manufacturing cycles, thereby minimizing environmental impact. By analysing India's unique socio‐economic and infrastructural setting, the research pinpoints possibilities for incorporating circularity into textile material style for fashion, addressing obstacles such as fast fashion, waste administration, and consumer behavior. The study underscores material design principles specific to the apparel industry, like modularity, biodegradability, and utilization of renewable and recycled fibres, to ensure long‐term sustainability. It examines the role of innovative textile technologies, such as bio‐fabricated materials and chemical recycling processes, as well as the potential of policy interventions and sector collaborations. Case reports highlight successful enactments of circular textile materials in India, showcasing scalable solutions tailored to the fashion sector. The insights provide applicable understandings for policymakers, fashion designers, and industry leaders, offering a roadmap for embedding circularity into the fashion and textile industry and production processes. By fostering cooperation across stakeholders, the research underscores the potential of circular fashion and textile innovations to transform the Indian fashion industry, aligning economic growth with environmental sustainability.