Novabori

Novabori transforms waste into high-quality recycled fabrics, promoting sustainability and improving the livelihoods of Mexican textile workers.

Between 1993 and 2013, the Mexican textile industry in Tlaxcala faced massive cuts, with many local manufacturers going out of business. The surviving companies were trapped in a cycle of producing low-value products, limiting their capacity to meet national and international market demands. This challenging environment, coupled with the fact that the textile/fashion industry is the second-largest cause of pollution globally, inspired the creation of Novabori in 2014. 

Novabori, a social enterprise based in Tlaxcala, redefines perceptions of recycled products by providing high-value, quality textiles to designers, individuals, and companies seeking sustainable alternatives. Novabori collects waste from cloth-makers in Tlaxcala and PET bottles from local factories. Local textile workers craft all products, and with their innovative recycling techniques, the enterprise conserves 60% more water than conventional production methods, significantly reducing environmental impact.

Novabori is not just a business but a force for positive change in the Mexican textile industry. In a country where 72% of the 2.3 million textile workers earn enough to surpass the poverty line, Novabori is making a difference. By offering fair wages higher than industry standards, fostering trust-based commercial relationships, and providing access to advanced payments and training in new technologies and machinery, Novabori is empowering artisans and textile workers. This support streamlines their production processes and ensures they can thrive in their craft.

By empowering small artisan workshops, fabric factories, and local garment workshops through capacity development and fair pricing, Novabori enhances environmental and social sustainability.

Novabori is not content with just improving its own operations. The company is also committed to raising the bar for the entire industry. Novabori mentors other textile factories to produce higher-quality, more profitable clothes. By creating networks with other textile factories, Novabori is fostering innovation and helping these factories enter larger markets with high-value-added products. This shift has led to higher sales and margins, greater differentiation, and less competition. As more enterprises include recycled textiles in their offerings, this cluster will grow, creating new jobs, opening new markets, and saving the planet.

Programme support

During the Mexico Accelerator Programme, we’ll support Novabori in developing new corporate collaborations to further its reach and impact.