Susan Tait, the co-founder of Melbourne’s furniture and accessories brand Tait, has been making furniture in Thomastown for over three decades. Alongside her husband, they have always strived to be as sustainable as possible while manufacturing locally. However, they faced a challenge when it came to disposing of wasted fabric, sending 500 kilograms of it to landfill each year.
In January 2023, Tait found a solution to their fabric waste problem when she discovered an innovative textile recycling pick-up and reward service. This service, after, was founded by Yesha Patel and Nehal Jain in 2022. Yesha, who used to buy a lot of fast fashion, was frustrated by the lack of options to recycle old, unwearable clothes. This led her to team up with Nehal to create after, which aims to keep textiles at their highest possible value by recycling them into new yarn.
The textile recycling industry in Australia faces challenges due to the lack of infrastructure for fiber-to-fiber recycling. Despite this, after has managed to expand its collection service across metro Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland, diverting over 11 tonnes of textile waste from landfill. Customers like Elly Ackland appreciate the opportunity to recycle their old clothes and textiles properly, rather than sending them to landfill.
After charges $20 to collect five kilograms of textile waste from customers‘ front doors, with the cost decreasing as more is recycled. The team at after acknowledges the challenges of cost and expertise in the industry but remains committed to their goal of recycling fabrics back into yarn for reuse. They are calling for the Australian government to invest in local textile recycling options, similar to initiatives in countries like France.
Despite these challenges, Tait believes that customers are driving change by showing interest in recycled products and being willing to pay a little more for sustainable options. Fabric houses are also beginning to create new fabric from recycled yarn, indicating a shift towards a more circular fashion economy. Tait finds it satisfying to see sustainability not only as a passion but also as good business, demonstrating the growing importance of sustainability in the industry.