Integrating design for recycling and upcycling strategies in sustainable textile innovation: toward a circular economy model for material recovery and creative reuse

The environmental pressure caused by textile waste is forcing the industry to explore sustainable innovation avenues. This study focuses on the collaborative application of recyclable design and upcycling strategies, exploring the construction of a circular economy model centered on material regeneration and creative use. By adopting a unique material composition, modular component design, and simplifying the fiber blending process, the recyclable design strategy significantly improved the decomposability and recycling efficiency of textiles. The practice of simultaneous upcycling transformed post-consumer and industrial textile waste into high-value-added products. Experimental data show that the fiber recovery rate increased by 27%, and energy consumption decreased by 28% compared to traditional processes. Consumer studies show that market acceptance of creatively remade products is significantly higher than that of conventional products. The research simultaneously revealed practical bottlenecks such as material compatibility and economic feasibility, and proposed targeted solutions such as standardized identification systems and automated disassembly processes. These findings provide an operational framework for balancing ecological benefits and commercial value, and offer practical references for designers, manufacturers, and policymakers to promote the ecological transformation of the textile industry.