EcoSmart Club, a youth-led grassroots organisation championing climate action, has launched the Oniparo Project, a nine-month sustainable fashion research initiative to address fast fashion and the impact of traditional clothing traders in reducing textile waste.
In a statement, the non-governmental organisation said the project would spotlight the contributions of women known as Oniparos, who collect and exchange discarded clothes in a long-standing barter-style trade in parts of Western Nigeria.
The Founder of EcoSmart Club, Hannah Omokhaye, said the initiative would document the environmental and economic value of the women’s activities while raising awareness about sustainable fashion and circular economy practices.
“These women are not only the pioneers of the circular economy in Nigeria, but they are also providing affordable clothing for low-income communities both in Nigeria and other West African countries, as well as livelihoods for themselves and their families,” Omokhaye said.
She noted that traditional trade is increasingly under threat due to economic changes, climate impacts, and shifting consumption patterns.
“This vital business is rapidly declining due to economic shifts and climate change. In particular, unpredictable weather affects their mobility, and heatwaves impact their health, and there is a growing preference for disposable clothing among people, which is influenced by cultural shifts and even religious beliefs,” she noted.
She added that the women’s contributions remain largely undocumented: “Additionally, there is little to no documentation or advocacy about Oniparos, leaving them overlooked in informal circular economy discussions. Yet, they play a critical role.”
The Oniparo trade is a long-standing exchange system in which women go from house to house collecting fairly used clothes and exchanging them for money or household items such as buckets or basins. The practice helps redistribute clothing, reduce waste and provide livelihoods for the traders.
The project, supported by the African Climate Alliance, will run from March to October 2026.
Omokhaye said the initiative would also raise public awareness about the environmental consequences of textile waste.
“This is why this project is important. It is to create public awareness of the co-benefits of zero textile waste, livelihoods, and cultural preservation,” Omokhaye remarked. “The Oniparo trade is a generational livelihood system. The women play a significant role in clothing redistribution and circular economy practices.”
Globally, the textile industry is one of the largest employers, but it also generates significant environmental impacts. Data from the United Nations Environment Programme shows that about 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced worldwide annually, with large volumes ending up in landfills or being incinerated.
The Project Manager of the Oniparo Project, Oluwatoyin Ajao, said the initiative would also drive conversations around sustainable fashion and policy recognition for women working in the informal circular economy.
“This project is a shift from the previous ones executed by the team. Not only are we using inclusive storytelling to preserve culture; through this project, we are also showcasing Afrocentric solutions to global issues such as textile waste and the broader conversation on environmental sustainability,” Ajao stated.
EcoSmart Club said it would continue to promote environmental consciousness through community building, recycling and upcycling programmes, advocacy, tree planting and the development of green skills.
