Vishal Tolambia and Humanity Centred Designs reflect a direct response to one of fashion’s biggest problems: textile waste. At 26, Vishal Tolambia is the founder and CEO of Humanity Centred Designs, a fashion and textile innovation company built around recycling waste into usable material. His work centres on HCD-TEX, a recycled textile made from mixed pre-consumer garment waste, developed to reduce landfill use and cut dependence on virgin fabric.

Born in Rajasthan, Vishal Tolambia grew up in a family where clothing was a daily trade, not an abstract idea. His grandfather worked as a tailor in Babayacha village near Ajmer. His father followed the same path before starting a small garment manufacturing and export unit in Pushkar. After school, Vishal Tolambia spent time at the unit, watching cutting, stitching, and finishing work. These early years gave him a clear view of how clothes are made and how much material gets wasted in the process.

Early training and education

Fashion was a natural choice for Vishal Tolambia. He enrolled at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Jodhpur. During his studies, he focused on craft, communities, and responsible design. His graduation project drew from the Rabari community of Gujarat and earned him the Best Graduation Project award. The work showed both cultural research and technical skill.

After completing internships, Vishal Tolambia looked to continue his education abroad. He applied for the MA Fashion Futures programme at the London College of Fashion. Money was a concern at first, but his portfolio helped him secure a scholarship. To manage daily expenses in London, he worked part time with a delivery company while attending classes.

A problem rooted at home

During his time at the London College of Fashion, Vishal Tolambia focused his research on textile waste. He looked at waste generated by garment units in Pushkar, including his family’s network. These factories produced large amounts of pre-consumer waste, such as fabric scraps left over from cutting. Because these scraps often contain mixed fibres, recycling options remained limited.

Instead of treating the issue as academic research, Vishal Tolambia collected data from manufacturers and tested recycling methods. He built prototypes and studied how waste could return to the production cycle. This process led to a patent-pending local circular recycling technology.

The outcome was HCD-TEX, short for Humanity Centred Designs Textile. The material is made entirely from mixed pre-consumer textile waste. It does not rely on new fibres. The material can be used to make clothing while reducing landfill pressure.

Founding Humanity Centred Designs

After developing HCD-TEX, Vishal Tolambia founded Humanity Centred Designs. The company works on two levels. One focuses on material innovation and recycling systems. The other focuses on producing fashion using recycled textiles.

The aim is practical. Reduce waste where it starts. Recycle locally. Use the material again in the same supply chain. This approach supports both environmental goals and local employment.

Vishal Tolambia presented his work at platforms such as Lakme Fashion Week in India, Woolmark Australia’s Impact Hub, and COP28 in the United States. These presentations helped place his work in front of designers, industry leaders, and policy groups.

Retail expansion and global reach

Within a year of completing his master’s degree in 2022, Humanity Centred Designs opened two retail stores in the United Kingdom, one in Bath and one in London. The stores focus on apparel made from recycled textiles. The brand now sells in more than six countries.

The expansion has remained controlled. The company has avoided rapid scale. The focus stays on product quality, traceability, and stable supply.

Industry observers note that this approach suits the nature of recycled materials, which require close monitoring and consistent sourcing.

Recognition and awards

Vishal Tolambia’s work has gained attention from global institutions. His enterprise has received recognition from the United Nations and other international bodies focused on climate and sustainability.

Humanity Centred Designs has won nine international awards. These include the Imagining Sustainable Fashion Award in Italy, the Creative Enterprise Award in London, Climate Launchpad India in 2022, and the Greenwich Business of the Year award in 2023. Vishal Tolambia has also received the Global Citizen Prize for his work in social and environmental change.

Mentors in the industry have highlighted his grounded approach. Akash Mehta, CEO and co-founder of Fable & Mane, who mentored him through the FashMash Young Pioneers Program, has said that Vishal Tolambia focuses on learning and action rather than image.

Latest developments and next steps

In early 2025, Vishal Tolambia is set to present Humanity Centred Designs’ Autumn–Winter 2025 collection at Pure London, one of the world’s largest fashion trade fairs. The collection will continue to use HCD-TEX and will focus on reducing waste during production.

Industry sources also suggest that Humanity Centred Designs is exploring licensing its recycling technology to garment manufacturers. This would allow factories to recycle waste close to where it is produced, cutting transport emissions and costs.

Vishal Tolambia has stated that growth will focus on impact, not volume. The company aims to improve material strength, expand recycling capacity, and support circular production systems.

A grounded view of sustainable fashion

Despite global exposure, Vishal Tolambia remains connected to local manufacturing systems in India. His work treats sustainability as a practical need rather than a marketing idea. The goal is to solve a problem that has existed in the garment industry for decades.

At 26, Vishal Tolambia stands out as a founder who works across design, production, and systems. His focus stays clear. Reduce waste. Reuse materials. Build solutions that last.

As pressure grows on the fashion industry to cut emissions and waste, the work of Vishal Tolambia and Humanity Centred Designs continues to draw attention for its direct and workable approach.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Vishal Tolambia?
Vishal Tolambia is an Indian fashion entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Humanity Centred Designs, a company focused on textile recycling and sustainable fashion.

Q2. What is Vishal Tolambia’s age?
He is 26 years old.

Q3. What is HCD-TEX?
HCD-TEX is a recycled textile made from mixed pre-consumer garment waste using a local circular recycling process.

Q4. Where has Vishal Tolambia presented his work?
He has presented his work at Lakme Fashion Week, Woolmark Australia’s Impact Hub, COP28 in the United States, and other international platforms.