Meet Riaz Hassan, our production partner at our upcycling facility in Faisalabad, Pakistan. We asked him three interview questions.
1. How do your craftsmanship contribute to the upcycling process?
At our upcycling facility in Pakistan, craftsmanship is at the heart of everything we do. With generations of textile expertise, our artisans are daily innovators and problem-solvers.
More than just a workplace, our factory thrives on collaboration and a shared purpose, providing both social and financial support for every worker. This fusion of tradition and innovation makes our upcycling process truly unique.
2. What are the biggest advantages of working with upcycling, and what challenges do you face?
Upcycling allows us to redefine sustainability while preserving textile craftsmanship. Our dedicated team in Faisalabad continuously innovates to give discarded materials new life.
Securing a consistent supply of high-quality materials, scaling production to meet demand, handling pre-used textiles, and educating workers on the value of upcycling require extra care. Sorting, cutting, printing, and stitching also become more complex when working with pre-used materials.
Yet, through education, transparency, and teamwork, we turn these challenges into opportunities—creating impact with every step while investing in our team’s well-being.
3. Leftover materials from production are reused and e.g. turned into new yarn through mechanical recycling. Can you explain?
We close the production loop by upcycling and recycling. We receive used hotel textiles from Sweden—some of which originally come from our region since Pakistan is a leading provider of hotel textiles. These materials are fully upcycled and transformed into high-end products for European consumers. By maximizing yield, we minimize waste, leaving behind only a small amount of unusable material.
Even these leftovers don’t go to waste. They are carefully sorted, cleaned, and processed into new yarn, significantly reducing waste and lowering our environmental footprint. It’s all about creating value from what already exists.
All revenue generated from recycling waste materials is reinvested to improve working conditions, with a special focus on supporting our female workforce.
For example, the women's restroom was equipped with a privacy divider and stocked with hygiene products.
Sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s our mindset that guides everything we do. With certifications like Sedex and OEKO-TEX, we ensure both worker well-being and the highest standards of safety and sustainability, strengthening our commitment to a healthier planet.
Upcycling Saves More Than Just Textiles
Creating Jobs & Growth—Production in Pakistan generates fair jobs and boosts the local economy, fostering long-term sustainability.
Optimizing Transport—We fill empty return containers with textiles, reducing wasted transport space.
Upcycling for Impact—Transport accounts for about 10% of a textile’s total climate and environmental impact. Recycling reduces this by 5–10%, while upcycling cuts it by up to 64%.
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