Title: Stitching sustainability - untangling IP knots in the fashion upcycling revolution

Authors: Latika Choudhary; Charu Srivastava; Hardik Daga

Addresses: School of Law, UPES, Dehradun, India ' School of Law, UPES, Dehradun, India ' School of Law, UPES, Dehradun, India

Abstract: The fashion industry is a significant contributor to global environmental degradation, accounting for approximately 10% of carbon emissions and 20% of the world's water waste. These staggering figures underscore the urgent need for change, as highlighted by our collective commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 12, which calls for responsible consumption and production. Despite the pressing need for sustainable practices, upcycling remains an underutilised strategy among major fashion brands. The reluctance stems primarily from IP concerns that persist even after masking the upcycled product. In this context, this research aims to adopt a solution-oriented approach, focusing on developing practical and legal strategies to mitigate and resolve IP-related issues in the upcycling process, to provide a comprehensive framework that enables private players to confidently navigate the IP landscape, thereby promoting the growth of sustainable practices in the fashion industry and aligning with global sustainability goals.

Keywords: fashion; upcycling; sustainability; circularity; Sustainable Development Goals; SDG.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPM.2026.152073

International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 2026 Vol.16 No.1, pp.101 - 115

Received: 25 Nov 2024
Accepted: 29 Jan 2025
Published online: 05 Mar 2026 *

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