Rethread operates a digital marketplace connecting African textile producers and fashion designers with global buyers. The platform streamlines the sourcing and procurement of sustainable, ethically produced African fabrics and finished garments. This service facilitates international trade by providing transparent supply chain management for high-quality African textiles.
Funding
$200K raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
The fashion industry relies heavily on polyester, a material derived from fossil fuels, contributing significantly to carbon emissions and plastic pollution. Existing textile waste management systems are inadequate, leading to large volumes of discarded clothing ending up in landfills, further exacerbating environmental damage and resource depletion. Smallholder farmers in Africa face economic challenges due to post-harvest agricultural waste, which often goes unused and contributes to environmental degradation.
Solution
Rethread Africa addresses these challenges by bioengineering Bacillus species to convert post-harvest agricultural waste, such as sugarcane bagasse, into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). PHA serves as a biodegradable and recyclable alternative to polyester, reducing the fashion industry's dependence on fossil fuels. This process creates a closed-loop system by sourcing agro-waste from smallholder farmers, providing them with an additional income stream and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The resulting PHA-based textiles offer versatility, water resistance, and enhanced durability compared to traditional materials, while also ensuring biodegradability and recyclability at the end of their life cycle.
Target Audience
Rethread Africa targets fashion brands seeking sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to polyester, smallholder farmers looking to generate additional income from agricultural waste, and environmentally conscious consumers.
Features
- Utilizes Bacillus species for the fermentation of agricultural waste into PHA bioplastics.
- PHA-based textiles are recyclable up to 6 times.
- Fabrics blended with PHA retain biodegradability, decomposing naturally in landfills.
- Blending PHA with natural fibers increases tensile strength by up to 20%.
- Offers water resistance when blended with natural fibers, suitable for activewear and outdoor apparel.
- CottonCycle system recycles post-consumer polyester and cellulose using hydrothermal and dissolution treatment.
- Recovers over 97% of polyester fibers, reducing energy use by 70% compared to virgin PET production.
- Transforms cotton into Cellulosic Superabsorbent Polymer (C-SAP), improving soil moisture and boosting cotton yields by up to 15% in water-scarce regions.