RECYCLING FABRIC WASTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION: CREATIVE PATHWAYS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC VALUE IN ZARIA FASHION HOUSES

Textile waste poses environmental and economic challenges in developing countries with limited recycling systems. This study investigates recycling potential for pre-consumer fabric waste from fashion houses in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. An exploratory studio-based methodology combined systematic waste quantification, observations, semi-structured interviews, and hands-on experimentation. 300 kg of fabric waste were collected, with cotton comprising 83 percent. Findings reveal that most workshops rely on open dumping or burning, reflecting low awareness of recycling alternatives. Practical experimentation demonstrated that off-cuts can be transformed into garments, accessories, home textiles, and décor items with structural integrity, achieving profit margins of 35 – 60 percent. Methodological stages included material sorting, preliminary sketching, motif exploration, and arrangement by colour, texture, and quality, facilitating creative design solutions using scrap materials. The study demonstrates that structured recycling can reduce pollution, support material circularity, and generate income for small-scale fashion enterprises, emphasizing the need for capacity building, community collection networks, and policy incentives to advance sustainable practices in Nigeria’s fashion sector.