Production and Acceptability of Footwear Made from Municipal Fabric Scraps for Sustainable Footwear Development in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Municipal fabric scraps generated from tailoring, garment production and other clothing-related activities are often discarded despite their potential for reuse in value-added textile products. This study assessed the use of municipal fabric scraps for footwear production, with three specific objectives focusing on the production process, acceptability of the footwear and its perceived contribution to sustainable footwear production as. The study adopted a Research and Development (R&D) design. Fabric scraps were sourced from tailoring and garment-making activities in North Bank, Makurdi, Benue State, and were sorted according to their physical condition, size, texture and suitability for footwear production. Four footwear designs were produced using cemented construction, involving pattern development, cutting, preparation of upper components, assembly, shaping, adhesive application, sole attachment and finishing. Data were collected using the Footwear Acceptability and Sustainability Evaluation Form (FASEF), comprising two sections: acceptability and perceived contribution to sustainable footwear production. The instrument was validated by three experts in Family and Consumer Science/Clothing and Textiles and yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.82. A four-point rating scale of Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree was used, with a criterion mean of 2.50. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The findings showed that the footwear produced from municipal fabric scraps was generally acceptable to the judges. High mean scores were recorded for liking of the footwear (M = 3.53), enjoyment of wearing it (M = 3.53), satisfaction (M = 3.47), proper fit (M = 3.53), comfort while walking (M = 3.53), softness (M = 3.53), ease of movement (M = 3.53), attractive design characteristics and perceived durability. The judges also agreed that they would consider purchasing the footwear (M = 3.53), recommend it to others (M = 3.40), and pay for it based on its features (M = 3.47). Regarding sustainability, the highest mean score was recorded for reduced reliance on conventional materials (M = 3.80), while responsible resource use, sustainability and prevention of fabric waste from landfills each received favorable ratings. The study concludes that municipal fabric scraps can be transformed into functional and aesthetically acceptable footwear while providing a practical avenue for sustainable textile waste utilization. The study recommends greater use of fabric scraps in footwear production and the incorporation of fabric-scrap product development into Clothing and Textiles training programmes.