iF Design - TextileRefuge: from textile waste to affordable housing

BACK TO RESULTS (0)

Concept to reduce the impact of textile waste

TextileRefuge addresses the global textile waste crisis by transforming discarded fast fashion into Limetex bricks, an innovative building material composed of shredded fabrics and hydrated lime. Durable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly, Limetex bricks offer an alternative to concrete, reducing environmental harm. In Chorkor, Ghana, where millions of used garments arrive weekly, the project empowers locals with jobs, skills, and affordable housing, transforming a global problem into a sustainable, circular solution that promotes social and environmental progress.

JURY STATEMENT

A successful attempt to solve two problems simultaneously: the huge global issue of textile waste and the lack of shelters for refugees. Waste from the fashion industry is transformed into bricks for a building system. This is a fantastic example of how to turn a problem into a a solution.

WINNER STATEMENT

Winning the iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD gave us the energy boost we needed. We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and are more motivated than ever to bring TextileRefuge to life. This is just the start of something bigger, one brick at a time!

UNIVERSITY