Sustain_It Textiles Lagos, a youth-led sustainability initiative, is targeting the diversion of two tonnes of textile waste from landfills over the next five years while creating economic opportunities for young Nigerians, artisans and communities.

The initiative focuses on collecting, reusing, upcycling and recycling textile materials as part of efforts to promote a circular fashion culture in Nigeria.

“The end of one person’s use of a garment does not have to be the end of its story,” Summer Chiamaka Anyanwu, founder, Sustain_It, said during a recent media parley in Lagos.

Anyanwu said the initiative is focused on extending the life cycle of clothing and textile materials, based on the belief that garments discarded by one person can retain value for another user or be transformed into new products.

She said Sustain_It aims to divert two tonnes of textile waste from landfills within five years, a target equivalent to about 100 Ghana-Must-Go bags of clothing, while empowering more than 100 artisans and tailors through practical upcycling training.

The initiative also plans to expand textile collection and redistribution, strengthen partnerships with recycling and circular economy organisations, establish sustainable fashion clubs in schools, and organise more thrift, swap and upcycling activities.

“Sustain_It’s model is built around four pathways — collect, reuse, upcycle and recycle. Collected clothing is sorted according to its potential next use, with wearable garments earmarked for redistribution through charity and community partners.”

Textile scraps and materials considered unsuitable for reuse are directed to upcycling initiatives or, where possible, recycling.

“A garment can be reused. A fabric scrap can become something new. An unwanted piece of clothing can become an opportunity for another person,” Anyanwu said.

The initiative’s activities have so far included monthly webinars, community outreach, social media education and practical upcycling workshops.

As of September 2026, Sustain_It had hosted eight webinars, attracting more than 100 registrations across the series. The organisation has also begun taking sustainable fashion education into schools and communities.

“Through a partnership with Madiva Artistry, Sustain_It supported a sustainability education session for 75 secondary school students and donated about 100 pieces of clothing to women in a community,” she said.

Anyanwu added that linking education with practical action was important to changing attitudes towards textile waste.

The initiative recently held its maiden Sustain_It Thrift & Swap Experience in Lagos under the theme, ‘Learn. Thrift. Swap. Donate. Connect. Give Your Wardrobe a Second Life.’

Sustain_It’s sustainability agenda is also connected to Anyanwu’s experience as the inaugural Miss Green Fashion in 2025, a platform through which she advocated sustainable fashion and environmental consciousness.

Source: BusinessDay