Honorable Mention

Solution

In the textile industry, the toxicity and high consumption of water in synthetic dyeing is a current problem, together with the excessive disposal of organic waste. These two problems damages our planet and aggravates the actual environmental situation. This is the problem that Tintotera takes over. The project consists in using solid and organic waste that is discarded daily in “La Chimba” shopping district (Santiago, Chile). It is around 9 tons of waste, that will end up in a landfill.

Project Description

Tintorera consists in using solid and organic waste that is discarded daily in “La Chimba” shopping district (Santiago, Chile). It is around 9 tons of waste, which are equivalent to 3 garbage trucks that will end up in a landfill. The objective of Tintorera is to give this waste a second use. Mixing up the passion for textiles and the author’s fashion world with sustainability and ethic production. Tintorera applies this method with the purpose of creating a sustainable market in the local textile industry, through a training and support process to entrepreneurs. The project considers: organic waste reuse classes such as fabric dyes; the commercialization of fabrics of natural origin dyed with organic waste; and the natural dyeing service. Moreover, the dyeing recipe is given openly, to generate the replication of the job throughout the country.

Overview of the Solution

Nowadays, sustainability is a great influencer for the consumer when choosing a product. Therefore, brands and ventures are trying to integrate some sustainable point in their production. In the textile industry, the toxicity and high consumption of water that exists in synthetic dyeing is a current problem, together with the excessive disposal of organic waste. These two problems damages our planet and aggravates the actual environmental situation, and this is the problem that tintotera takes over.

The project consists in using solid and organic waste that is discarded daily in “La Chimba” shopping district (located in Recoleta, Santiago, Chile). It is around nine tons of waste, which are equivalent to three garbage trucks that will end up in a landfill. The objective of Tintorera is to give this waste a second use. Mixing up the passion for textiles and the author’s fashion world with sustainability and ethic production. The methodology consists in: (1) cloth biting, (2) color extraction, (3) dyed cloth, (4) ph modification (optional). Tintorera applies this method with the purpose of creating a sustainable market in the local textile industry, through a training and support process to entrepreneurs. The project considers: organic waste reuse classes such as fabric dyes; the commercialization of fabrics of natural origin dyed with organic waste; and the natural dyeing service. Moreover, the dyeing recipe is given openly, to generate the replication of the job throughout the country. Tintorera generates a double impact: turns what some consider “waste” into valuable resources and transforms the fabric dyeing process into an ethical process that takes care of its environmental impact.