• Dr. Ritu Madhan
• Ms. Dalvi Sara

Upholstery fabric is the material used as soft coverings for cushions, chairs, sofas and curtains. Swatch cards consists of sample fabrics which allow consumers to visualize and feel the quality of the fabric. The retailers receive these swatch cards almost every three to six months for every new collection. Every retail outlet stocks upholstery fabrics of at least ten to fifteen brands; thus, a lot of fabric is discarded later in the form of swatch cards. Annually more than 17 million tonnes of textile waste were dumped into landfills of which rarely 13% to 15% is being re-cycled. Synthetic fibres present in the textiles can take more than two-hundred years to decompose. Old swatch cards are also discarded contributing negatively to the environment. Swatch cards are pre-consumer waste made of sturdy fabric which can be used to develop a variety of sustainable products, thereby reducing the waste generated. In this study, the researcher aims to design and develop sustainable products from discarded swatch cards. The research is exploratory in design, survey was conducted with shopkeepers of upholstery stores to understand waste generated. The survey was conducted using Google forms and the sampling technique used was convenience and snowball sampling technique. On the basis of results received, old swatch cards were sourced from an upholstery store and sustainable products were developed. Small products used regularly in every household were developed like coasters, hot pot holders, pouches for make-up and sunglasses. Techniques used to create the products are quilting, patchwork and applique work. Acceptability study of the products will ascertain the future scope of the research project thus enabling effective waste management of swatch cards.

Upholstery, swatch cards, textile waste, sustainable product development

"DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS USING UPHOLSTERY SWATCH CARDS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 4, page no.a335-a341, April-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2204044.pdf

"DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS USING UPHOLSTERY SWATCH CARDS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 4, page no. ppa335-a341, April-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2204044.pdf