Stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to embrace circular fashion, an approach that focuses on recycling, upcycling, and sustainable sourcing.

This appeal was made at the official launch of the UK-Nigeria Circular Fashion Pathway Report and Co-Creation by Innovate UK. The report identifies opportunities such as recycling hubs, knowledge exchange with international partners, and the revival of indigenous practices like using hibiscus and turmeric as natural dyes as an alternative to the chemical-heavy methods that harm waterways.

However, experts lamented that while Nigeria has policies for plastic waste, little has been done to regulate fashion's growing footprint. Knowledge gaps and outdated practices, they warned, remain a stumbling block. For them, it is more than just a trend; it is the future of an industry that can protect the environment while creating jobs and attracting investment.

"Every intervention is important, but within the policy space, the first question is: can we have a proper plan? How do we dispose of fashion-related waste? How do we incentivise responsible disposal? We must also integrate circularity into schools, institutions, and training curriculums. Circularity is possible. Recycling fashion is very possible. We've seen examples such as converting textiles into paper and reusable products," Innovate UK's Nigeria Country Lead, Akoji John said.

Knowledge Transfer Manager at Innovate UK, Chidubem Ejezie, observed that Nigeria's circular fashion ecosystem is unstructured and complex due to lack of regulation. "When innovators work in silos, they face challenges in scaling. By creating structured systems and networks, we can attract investors and build a stronger circular fashion economy."

For businesses already experimenting with solutions, the journey has been rewarding as Jesutofunmi Oluwadare of Süss Fabrics revealed that her company is working on turning textile waste into paper, thereby reducing deforestation. "We lose between four billion to eight billion trees to paper making. If we can convert our textile waste to paper, I think that is absolutely sustainable and amazing," she said.

Others like Afrikstabel's Creative Director, Ifebuche Madu, are finding practical ways to embed sustainability into daily operations. "Our dye wastewater treatment system is not just for disposal but also for recycling water back into production," she noted.

Director of Sanitation Services at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Hassan A. Sanuth disclosed that the state has launched a Circular Solutions Delivery Framework. This includes Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes, upgraded recycling facilities, and education for waste pickers. "These initiatives will not only enhance local sustainability but also establish Lagos as a reference point for other African cities," he said.