ACT on the “Suited” Podcast: Circular Fashion Part II

Africa Collect Textiles is featured again on Suited with Kenya Wiley in Part II of the series on circular fashion and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This continuation brings a deeper look at the practical challenges — and opportunities — within Kenya’s textile landscape.

In this episode, Elmar Stroomer from ACT and Sarah Njau, Managing Director of GFS East Africa, explore what happens behind the scenes of apparel production in Kenya, especially for American brands operating under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
They discuss the environmental impact of manufacturing for export, the offcuts and unused materials left behind, and the systems needed to manage these waste streams responsibly.

The conversation also highlights how U.S. textile-to-textile recycling startups can play a meaningful role in Kenya. With large volumes of both post-production and post-consumer waste, the episode examines why Kenya is an important location for circular innovation — and what it would take for international recyclers to work effectively here.

Part II addresses key questions for U.S. brands and innovators:

• How can American companies producing in Kenya manage their post-production waste more sustainably?
• What would collaboration with local recovery systems look like?
• Why should textile-to-textile recyclers expand to Kenya, and how can they do so responsibly?