Circular by Design: Global Stories for a Regenerative Textile Future

This Fellowship explored leading international approaches to circularity in clothing and textiles, with a focus on design, reuse, repair, recycling, and skills development. Over five weeks, Lisa Piller visited 39 stakeholders across South and Southeast Asia, the EU and UK, identifying scalable, ecosystem-based innovations adaptable to Australia’s context.
The report calls for bold policy reform, targeted support for SMEs and social enterprises, and strategic investment in decentralised infrastructure, inclusive training, and cross-sector collaboration. It presents practical recommendations for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to design out waste and strengthen local capacity to drive Australia’s transition to a more circular and equitable textile economy.