We started with one problem: Textile Innovators need more “raw material” to meet the fashion supply chain’s demand.
As the fashion industry moves towards a more circular model, there are several new textile innovators each year who are turning old materials into new materials. However, they are struggling to find a great source for their “raw material” – AKA clothing waste.
This is the problem Barely is solving. We have created a system where we collect unwearable garments from donation centers & municipal waste streams, sort them by material type (cotton, polyester, nylon, etc.) using our proprietary detection system, and sell the bundled material to manufacturers.
We are currently creating a buying agreement with our first manufacturer – a poly-cotton recycler based in Virginia – and are planning our first pilot program for Q1 2024!