RePete is an innovative project linking the textile circular economy with educational initiatives to promote equal opportunities in Kenya. In partnership with Africa Collect Textiles and stakeholders like the German clothing manufacturer Fynch Hatton, the project bridges European and Kenyan entities to emphasize collective end-of-life product responsibility in the textile industry and collaboratively work towards solutions aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 17. RePete aims to raise awareness that both producers and consumers share the responsibility to address the issue of textile waste together.
The project unfolds in two phases:
The first involves a workshop at Marurui Primary School Nairobi, teaching girls craft skills and creativity through textile upcycling, offering career prospects, especially for those unable to pursue higher education. This initiative also revives creativity and craftsmanship, significantly declined due to the local second-hand market since the 1990s, while imparting Africa's textile heritage.
The second phase, a flagship project, examines ecological challenges in Kenya caused by textile waste and uncovers the potential of the local textile industry to explore future investment opportunities. This approach conducts on-site research in Kenya to understand how a sustainable textile industry can be achieved collectively and how investments in such initiatives can drive positive changes both locally and globally. Additionally, RePete explores opportunities for local textile machinery procurement and collaboration with local manufacturers to promote future investments in textile technologies.
