Exploring the potential of Chindi (textile waste) for producing quality products for women empowerment".

The research is conducted in the slums of sector 25, Chandigarh, which is a part of larger research study- Chindi: An Art of Textile Waste Management. The study seeks development of tools for converting textiles waste from various sources into Chindi Product. Chindi is a term used to describe the textile waste, which has been cut in the strips, ranging from ½’’ to 1 ½” width. Based on secondary data, techniques are identified and classified which can be employed in converting textile waste to useful products. In the present study, a group of 20 women was formed on the basis of their interest in learning new skill for increasing their earnings in near future. A pretest was administered to test their knowledge of using Chindi as raw material, understanding of quality and colour aesthetics. Tools were developed for the methods employed for the segregation of waste on the basis of colour and converting fabric scrape in pre-identified second stage raw material. The testing of second stage raw material for consistency in quality and colour aesthetic is limited to assessment of Chindi products developed by the researcher. The pre and post test were conducted that showed noticeable improvement in the skills of making Chindi twinning balls with further scope of improving the quality and colour understanding of the group