Dakshina Kannada initiative turns discarded clothes into women's income

The brief

Context

In Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, an initiative called Sooji Mallige is diverting discarded clothes from landfills by upcycling them into utility products such as laptop bags, tote bags, pouches, scrunchies and hairbands. It was launched by Hasiru Dala, an organisation engaged in waste collection and segregation across 10 gram panchayats, which found that households were frequently throwing away good-quality garments. The project runs with support from the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat and SBI Foundation Conserw, and trains rural women from Sanjeevani Okoota groups in tailoring and product-making. It links waste management with rural women's livelihoods and with a push to replace plastic bags with cloth bags.

Key facts

• Sooji Mallige has upcycled nearly seven tonnes of textile waste over the past eight months in Dakshina Kannada.
• Women from 10 gram panchayats are involved in collecting, processing and converting discarded garments into products.
• About 5.5 tonnes of clothes were collected initially from households; another 1.5 tonnes came through the 'Freedom from Plastic' initiative.
• Around 15 to 20 women are currently engaged, with some earning between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 a month.
• Around 1,000 sarees in good condition have been sent to Davangere for personal use by waste pickers.
• Two women from each Sanjeevani Okoota in the 10 gram panchayats were trained in basic tailoring and product-making skills.
• Three women represented the Sooji Mallige brand at Bharat Tex in New Delhi, a textile exhibition supported by the Union Ministry of Textiles; products were appreciated by Union Minister Giriraj Singh.
• The Lions Club placed bulk orders and donated two sewing machines to the initiative.

Timeline

1. About eight months ago (start of the initiative)Hasiru Dala launched Sooji Mallige with Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat and SBI Foundation Conserw support; door-to-door and college collection drives began.
2. Initial phaseAbout 5.5 tonnes of discarded clothes collected from households.
3. SubsequentlyAnother 1.5 tonnes collected under the 'Freedom from Plastic' initiative and converted into bags and other products.
4. RecentlyThree women showcased Sooji Mallige products at Bharat Tex in New Delhi; collection network expanded to tailoring units.
5. Shortly (planned)More women to be trained as demand grows; talks under way with designers to create Gen Z-oriented designs.

Who has a stake

• Hasiru Dala — Implementing organisation; handles waste collection and segregation in 10 gram panchayats, buys finished products and markets them under the Sooji Mallige brand.
• Rural women of 10 gram panchayats / Sanjeevani Okoota members — Gain tailoring training and home-based income; some earn Rs 15,000-20,000 a month.
• Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat — Supports the project; benefits through reduced textile waste going to landfills in its jurisdiction.
• SBI Foundation Conserw — Supporting partner enabling implementation of the upcycling project.
• Waste pickers — Receive good-condition sarees for personal use; around 1,000 sarees sent to Davangere.
• Tailoring units and households — Sources of discarded fabric and garments feeding the upcycling chain.
• Corporates, institutions and Lions Club — Buyers placing bulk and corporate gifting orders; Lions Club also donated two sewing machines.

Why it matters

Textile waste is a fast-growing and poorly managed waste stream, and this initiative shows how good-quality discarded clothes can be diverted from landfills into saleable utility products. It simultaneously creates home-based income for rural women who were earlier homemakers, and supports the shift from plastic to cloth bags. The model links panchayat-level waste management, CSR funding and self-help group networks in a way that can be replicated elsewhere.