CHIATECH JOURNAL · Registered Version of Record

Textile Upcycling, Family Empowerment and Circular Livelihoods in Jos North, Nigeria: Empirical Evidence from 100 Upcycling Households

1. L. K. Akila
2. D. A. Agbo

Abstract

Background: Textile upcycling converts discarded or surplus fabrics into products of renewed or higher use value and can link household livelihood strategies with circular-economy objectives. Objective: This study examined upcycling participation, family empowerment, income effects, environmental benefits and practical constraints among families engaged in textile upcycling in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 families purposefully selected from a field-identified population of 312 families involved in upcycling activities around Katako, Terminus and adjoining Jos North communities. Data were collected in person with the Upcycling and Family Empowerment Questionnaire and analysed with percentages, descriptive comparison, Pearson correlation and an independent-samples t-test. Results: Participation increased from low (20%) to medium (50%) and high (80%) levels alongside progressively more complex activities, from scrap use and stuffing to garment transformation, household products and recovery of buttons, zippers and trims. Reported family-income increases were +10%, +25% and +50% across the low, medium and high participation levels, respectively. The principal barriers were lack of tools/equipment (30%), insufficient training/skills (20%) and limited market access (15%). Upcycling participation was strongly associated with family empowerment (r=.75, p<.01; derived 95% CI .65-.82). The environmental hypothesis was also supported (t=2.56, p<.05), indicating greater waste reduction/resource recovery among more active upcycling families. Conclusion: In Jos North, textile upcycling operates simultaneously as a material-circulation practice and a household livelihood strategy. Its expansion, however, depends on skills, equipment, product-quality development, market access and supportive circular-economy institutions. The evidence supports integrating household upcycling into vocational training, microenterprise support and locally grounded textile-waste strategies while avoiding causal claims that exceed the cross-sectional design.

Keywords: textile upcycling; circular economy; family empowerment; household livelihoods; textile waste; sustainable fashion; resource recovery; Jos North; Plateau State; Nigeria

Licence: CC BY 4.0

Published by CHIA TECH SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES LIMITED. ISSN assignment remains pending.