Climate Curve

Primary Project Category:

Name of Project:

Year Project Originated:

Project Summary / Description:

Fashion is a major but overlooked contributor to climate change, producing ~100 billion garments annually and embedding 5–15 kg CO₂e per item. In Kenya, overflowing dumpsites like Dandora burn discarded clothes, polluting the air and harming communities. The Swap Circle addresses this through circular fashion: over the past 3 years, we’ve swapped 12,500+ garments, hosted 35+ events in 10+ towns, and engaged 6,000+ members via swaps, repair, and upcycling workshops. While impactful, physical events limit reach and frequency.

Our new AI-enabled digital platform dramatically scales SwapCircle’s proven model nationwide. Members can upload clothing, receive AI-driven repair and styling suggestions, earn tokens for participation, and access personalized style-matched swaps. Proximity-based matching reduces transport emissions, while 24/7 access allows frequent, convenient swapping for urban and rural users alike. By enabling tens of thousands of garments to circulate digitally each year, the platform has the potential to reduce 100–750 tCO₂e annually, while normalizing circular fashion, encouraging mindful consumption, and fostering a nationwide shift in cultural norms toward sustainable clothing. This initiative combines measurable climate impact, behavior change, and scalable technology, creating a replicable model for global fashion sustainability.

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

['Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)']

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

The Swap Circle is rooted in communities often excluded from the climate movement, and it is led by them. Our work grew from witnessing the impacts of textile waste in Nairobi, where women, youth, and marginalized communities bear the health, economic, and environmental costs despite contributing least to overconsumption. 

Women and youth are central to our model, not just as beneficiaries but as leaders, organizers, and decision-makers. Our core team and town coordinators are predominantly youth and women, ensuring solutions reflect local realities. Since 2023, leftover garments from swaps have been donated to women-led groups, including a network of 95 young mothers who resell select items to generate income, while others are upcycled or donated to children’s homes.

By extending garment life, we reduce demand for new clothing and embedded emissions, improve access to affordable clothing, and provide economic opportunities. Our upcoming Swap App will scale this impact nationwide. With offline-friendly features, it will enable youth, women, and rural communities with limited connectivity to participate in clothing swaps using what they already own. By combining circular fashion, economic empowerment, and climate-conscious behavior, The Swap Circle ensures that climate action is inclusive, practical, and led by those most affected.