India, May 9 -- The adverse environmental effects of non-biodegradable polyester clothes led 35-year-old Shripat Jagirdar to search for sustainable fabrics that would not harm the environment in any way. Having done a diploma course from Sasmira, a textile research institute in Mumbai, and immersing himself in the field early on gave him a deeper perspective on the industry.

It set him thinking. "What really happens to the clothes we discard? Donated polyester garments often end up in landfills. Unlike natural fibres, polyester does not biodegrade, and even cotton blends can take 40-60 years to naturally decompose. The environmental cost of disposal, in many cases, exceeded the value of the garment itself," Shripat said.

This was an uns...