2026 Textile Pitch Competition
Congratulations to all the participants of the Divert NS Textile Innovation Pitch Competition! The pitch was held on March 25th at the Arthur L Irving Entrepreneurship Centre where the top five participants pitched their bold solutions to textile waste reduction.
Textile waste in Nova Scotia is rising sharply, driven by population growth, increased consumption, and the dominance of fast fashion. Between 2017 and 2023, the volume of residential and industrial textile waste disposed of in Nova Scotia landfills increased by 111%. College and university students were challenged to pitch their innovative solutions to this complex issue for a chance to win. Learn more about the winners below.
1st Place: Daniella Akpoguma
In first place, winning $1,000 and a paid internship opportunity, was Divert on Campus by Daniella. Divert on Campus was pitched as a province-wide partnership program between Divert NS and post-secondary institutions across Nova Scotia. The cornerstone of Divert on Campus is a student-operated thrift and redistribution store designed to extend the lifecycle of textiles and essential goods within campus communities.
The program leverages student leadership, volunteer engagement, and campus infrastructure to extend the lifecycle of clothing and reduce textile waste.
2nd Place: Chelsea Clement: Rethread
In second place, winning $500, was ReThread Nova Scotia by Chelsea. Chelsea pitched her community-driven social enterprise designed to reduce textile waste by helping residents rethink their relationship with clothing. The intent of ReThread is to create judgment-free spaces where individuals can learn, mend, connect, and reflect.
3rd Place: Kavya Shah and Rohit Redhu
In third place, winning $300, was ReFab by Kavya & Rohit who pitched the development of an advanced chemical recycling process capable of recovering high-quality raw materials from post-consumer textiles.