The volume of textile production exceeds the production volumes of many other sectors of the national economy.
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Textile production is a complex multi-stage process that starts with the cultivation of fibers, which undergo a finishing process, resulting in finished fabrics and textile materials. The finishing of textile raw materials involves various physical and chemical processes, so it significantly impacts the environment and human health. A characteristic feature of the textile production process is the high consumption of water and the use of various chemicals. The algorithm for manufacturing the material includes chemical treatment processes that require water, chemicals, and electricity. Thus, it can be stated that the production of any textile item is accompanied by the creation of significant amounts of waste.
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The waste stream is a result of the specifics of the technological process of producing a particular material. The waste produced includes: fibers (natural, synthetic, chemical); threads and fabric remnants (both from production waste or leftovers); consumption waste in the form of household textile products (consumer waste). Consumer waste in the textile industry consists of clothing that has completed its life cycle and is eventually sent to solid waste landfills (SWL). As such, items that are no longer in use account for up to 10% of the total amount of all SWL. This statistic indicates the necessity of recycling textile waste.
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Recycling textile waste is driven primarily by two factors: environmental (reducing the burden on the planet's biosphere) and economic (using secondary raw materials reduces production costs and, consequently, the cost of the final product).
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Recently, designers and entire corporations in the industry are paying more attention to the issue of sustainable fashion. The idea of sustainable fashion focuses on the following aspects: careful use of natural and human resources (reducing), reusing and upcycling of used items (reusing and upcycling), as well as recycling waste and used goods to create new products (recycling).
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Upcycling is the secondary use and creative transformation of waste (items, household products, and mass-consumed goods) into works of art, household items, clothing, accessories, and so on. Unlike the recycling process, which turns waste into secondary raw materials, upcycling requires no significant additional production costs. The key point is that the result of this process creates a product that exceeds the original material in terms of quality.
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It is important to view the ecological movement of upcycling as a creative process that can also serve as a form of psychological therapy. The process of creating any item by hand reduces stress, relieves negative emotions, develops hand motor skills, and stimulates brain activity.

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Thus, it should be noted that one of the simplest and most accessible methods of combating excessive textile waste is upcycling. This type of activity can convey to consumers the idea of rational attitudes toward the process of acquiring new things, careful treatment of existing wardrobe items, and the ability to recycle them ecologically, thereby reducing the formation of textile waste. This, in turn, is an important factor in extending the lifespan of textile products, reducing the environmental impact, and improving human health.

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