Ecollectiv, an initiative developed by Yeşim Group in collaboration with the Uludağ Soroptimist Club and the Karapınar Women’s Cooperative, demonstrates how a comprehensive approach to textile waste can drive both environmental sustainability and social transformation. The initiative has received recognition across Environmental, Diversity, and Social categories in the 2025 Just Style Excellence Awards.
The Just Style Excellence Awards honor the most significant achievements and innovations in the apparel and textile industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies leading positive change and shaping the future of the industry.
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Yeşim Group’s Ecollectiv initiative won the Environmental award for its localized circular upcycling model that significantly reduces textile waste. The company received the Diversity award for placing women at the center of production and fostering gender equity. Additionally, the project’s measurable impact on community empowerment and collaboration was recognized with the Social award.
Local circularity: Reducing environmental impact through community-based upcycling
Ecollectiv’s approach to environmental sustainability is rooted in the practical application of circular economy principles at a local level. Textile production is notorious for generating significant waste, much of which is typically destined for landfill or incineration. Ecollectiv intervenes at this critical point by capturing a significant portion of Yeşim Group’s textile waste and reintegrating it into the economy as new, value-added products. These include a diverse range of handcrafted items such as bags, baskets, and pet beds produced from fabric scraps, yarn remnants, and surplus materials.
Commitment to keeping the entire upcycling process within the immediate community sets Ecollectiv apart. All sorting, transformation, and sales activities take place in the same neighborhood as Yeşim’s headquarters and factory in Bursa. This localized model not only reduces transportation requirements and the associated carbon emissions but also ensures that resource consumption is kept to a minimum. By minimizing the environmental footprint at every stage, Ecollectiv demonstrates a tangible reduction in waste and emissions.
The project also actively involves local partners and suppliers, some of whom contribute services pro bono, such as converting fabric scraps into yarn balls. This collaborative effort amplifies the environmental impact and sets a practical example for other manufacturers seeking to implement circularity in their operations. Ecollectiv’s outcomes are aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and its model has been presented at industry events.
Women empowerment and diversity: Placing women at the heart of the value chain
Ecollectiv’s recognition in the Diversity category results from its focus on empowering women in a region where economic opportunities for women are often limited. The Karapınar Women’s Cooperative, operating near Yeşim’s production facilities, is central to the project’s success. Women in the cooperative are responsible for transforming textile waste into finished products, giving them not only employment but also a sense of ownership and agency within the value chain.
The project’s structure ensures that economic benefits flow directly to the cooperative, with transparent and measurable outcomes. To date, Ecollectiv has provided employment to 100 women and generated TRY220,250 in direct payments. This income supports not only the women themselves but also their families and the broader community, contributing to regional development.
Beyond financial empowerment, Ecollectiv invests in capacity-building through ongoing training and awareness programs. The “Circle of Awareness” workshops, delivered by the Uludağ Soroptimist Club, cover topics such as gender equality and legal rights. These sessions are designed to equip women with the knowledge and confidence to participate fully in economic and social life. The project also recognizes the importance of visibility and networking, enabling cooperative members to connect with business and civil society representatives, further enhancing their social capital.
Ecollectiv’s inclusive approach extends to young volunteers and diverse stakeholders, creating an environment where women’s skills and leadership are recognized and celebrated. This empowerment model is intentionally designed to be replicable, offering a blueprint for similar initiatives in other regions.
Social innovation: Multi-stakeholder collaboration and community engagement
Ecollectiv’s impact in the Social category is underpinned by its multi-stakeholder approach and commitment to community empowerment. The project brings together a wide range of participants, including Yeşim Group employees, local NGOs, suppliers, and volunteers from different age groups. This collaborative structure ensures that the benefits of the initiative are widely distributed and that the community is actively engaged in every stage of the process.
A notable example of this engagement is the involvement of high school and university students through Yeşim’s “People First” volunteer program and the “Camp Future Stars” initiative. These young volunteers participate in hands-on activities, such as sorting textile scraps and converting them into yarn balls at both the cooperative and Yeşim’s facilities. This experience provides practical exposure to sustainability and volunteerism, fostering a culture of social responsibility among the next generation.
Ecollectiv also prioritizes raising awareness about upcycling and sustainability through outreach and training sessions. The “Circle of Awareness” program, for instance, delivers workshops on gender equality and legal rights, with Ecollectiv products distributed to participants as a tangible reminder of the project’s values. These activities not only broaden the project’s social reach but also reinforce its message within the company and the wider community. The initiative’s ability to unite diverse stakeholders around shared goals has been recognized externally, most notably with the “Women’s Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Support Award” from the Women-Friendly Brands Platform in 2024. Ecollectiv’s model of collective action and community-driven transformation offers a replicable framework for generating meaningful social benefit in the textile industry.
“On behalf of Yeşim Group, I am truly honored to share that our Ecollectiv – Supporting Women’s Empowerment and Employment by Recycling Textile Waste project has been recognized in the 2025 Just Style Excellence Awards in not one, but three distinct categories: Social, Environment, and Diversity. This remarkable recognition underscores the strength of a model that unites sustainability with social transformation.”
– Selim Şankaya, Co-CEO of Yeşim Group
“Ecollectiv was built on a simple yet powerful idea: that textile waste can be given a second life while creating new opportunities for women in disadvantaged communities. By keeping production, transformation, and sales entirely local, we have minimized our environmental footprint, fostered community empowerment, and placed women at the very heart of the value chain. What makes this initiative truly distinctive is the collective spirit behind it — employees, youth, suppliers, NGOs, and women’s cooperatives working hand in hand to achieve lasting change.
This achievement also reflects Yeşim Group’s corporate mission: to create irreplaceable value through excellent customer service and sustainable growth, to protect the planet, and to be the core strategic manufacturing partner of the world’s leading brands with a ‘People First’ approach. With Ecollectiv, we are proving that sustainability is not only about processes and materials — it is about people, inclusion, and building stronger communities around us.
As a company trusted by leading global sportswear and premium brands, we believe our role goes beyond production. We see it as our responsibility to set new standards that align with the future of fashion: circular, inclusive, and sustainable. Winning in three categories at this year’s awards strengthens our determination to expand Ecollectiv further, scale its positive impact, and continue to walk confidently toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.
I sincerely thank all colleagues, partners, and stakeholders who contributed with their vision, commitment, and energy to this journey. Together, we are demonstrating the power of collective action to create a better world,” added Şankaya.
Company Profile
Rooted in 1956, Yeşim Group holds a leading position in the textile industry as a strategic and indispensable manufacturing partner for global brands. Headquartered in Bursa, Türkiye’s textile capital, Yeşim operates not only at its central production facility but also through contracted production across various cities in Türkiye, while managing its international operations in Egypt and Moldova. As one of the world’s prominent integrated facilities, Yeşim Group carries out all processes of the apparel industry in-house, from yarn to finished product.
With a daily capacity of 115 tons of knitting, 125 tons of dyeing, 100,000 meters of printing, 400,000 pieces of apparel, and 100,000 pieces of home textile products, Yeşim operates on a total area of 326,000 square meters in Bursa, of which 144,000 square meters is covered and 182,000 square meters is open space. This scale positions Yeşim among the largest companies in its region, acting as a key economic driver with its strong employment and export power.
Through its innovative corporate culture, Yeşim Group continuously renews itself, closely follows industry trends, and adapts proactively. Its R&D center—certified by the Ministry of Industry and Technology—has pioneered numerous breakthroughs in smart, organic, recycled, and innovative fabrics, reinforcing its leadership in textile innovation. Today, Yeşim Group continues its strategic partnerships with some of the world’s most renowned brands, including Nike, Under Armour, Zara, Bershka, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Aldi, Gerster, Schlafgut and Tchibo.
Links
Website: https://www.yesim.com
