Knitting Purpose and New Life from Textile Waste in Indonesia
As we head into April, Earth Day (April 22) is on many hearts and minds. Textiles, particularly discarded clothes, are among the top pollutants in our world’s landfills, fueling greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Laura Abigail Simbolon, a high school student from Jakarta, Indonesia, feels a deep commitment to nature and the planet. After attending Wharton Global Youth’s Essentials of Entrepreneurship program, she set out on a social entrepreneurship mission, launching her project, Our Commuknitty, which diverts discarded cotton clothing from landfills, turns it into balls of yarn (see photo) and repurposes it into products like coasters — while also engaging the skills of differently abled artists in her city. “I realized that textile waste and also inclusivity in Indonesia were major, overlooked gaps that no one was trying to address,” she says.
Laura was among the 200 winners of the 2024 Diana Award for her teams’ work, and now, as a graduating senior, she is thinking about how she might replicate Our Commuknitty’s model in other countries.
Be sure to click the arrow above to listen to our 20-minute conversation with Laura. An edited transcript appears below.
Wharton Global Youth Program: Hello and welcome to Future of the Business World, coming to you from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
I’m Diana Drake, managing editor of the Wharton Global Youth Program, which delivers engaging Wharton business education to high school students worldwide. Through our programs, courses and competitions, we get the chance to meet lots of passionate young innovators and changemakers each year. This podcast is an opportunity for us to hear directly from these students about their ideas and startups, while also exploring different business concepts and industry insights through the lens of student experiences. Once a month, we share that 20 minutes of student-led innovation.
We first met today’s guest on Wharton’s Philadelphia campus during our Essentials of Entrepreneurship summer program. She learned about the Future of the Business World podcast, and followed up when she was back home in Indonesia by filling out the pitch form on our Wharton Global Youth website. Already, I’m feeling her purpose.
Laura Abigail Simbolon, thank you for joining us on Future of the Business World!
Laura Abigail Simbolon: Hi, Diana, nice to speak with you.
Wharton Global Youth: Tell us about yourself. Where do you live and go to school?
Laura: Hi, my name is Laura. I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia. I’m currently a senior-year student at Mentari Intercultural School Jakarta, and I enjoy using my free time to read non-fiction books, to learn how to cook, and also to do Pilates.
Wharton Global Youth: Your organization Our Commuknitty keeps discarded textiles out of landfills, where they contribute to pollution, by turning them into yarns and then knitting new products from those materials. There is also a component of training and involving differently abled artists in this process. Let’s start with the pain point you are addressing. What exactly is textile waste and why is it a big problem in Indonesia?
Laura: I like to define textile waste in the most basic terms, as discarded or unused clothing that is no longer needed or used in production or in consumption. I think that this is a very concerning issue in Indonesia, especially because Indonesia has the fastest and the largest growing economy right now in the world. According to the National Development Agency, we’re projected to produce about 3.9 million tons of textile waste in 2030 annually. And right now, we’re at 2.3 million tons. So, that’s already an incredible amount, and we’re going even further than that. And sadly, not a lot of people know about this issue, because the government doesn’t do much about it. And these following years, since we’re projected to produce that much by 2030, it’s going to define our environmental steps in the future.
Wharton Global Youth: You mentioned the economy growing quickly, and a big part of that economy is textile manufacturing – clothing manufacturing, correct?
Laura: Yes. A lot of foreign firms actually outsource their labor here. And because of that, a lot of pollution is occurring.
Wharton Global Youth: Why are you passionate about this?
Laura: I’ve always been interested in fashion, and in late 2022, I learned how to knit from my grandma. So, it’s a very personal hobby. And when I was knitting, I realized that I could turn anything into yarn. I can turn my hair into yarn. I can even turn discarded clothes into yarn. And from that ideation, I realized, okay, why not use the old t-shirts that I never use anymore, or my old baby t-shirts, and it worked out perfectly. I managed to make that into yarn, and I managed to make that into new products, like coasters. At the time, my parents needed coasters, and I told them, it’s okay, I can knit them for you. You don’t have to buy anything.
I’m also very passionate about this project because I love socializing with people. I’m a very extroverted person, so I love meeting people with new backgrounds, and like meeting new people that are outside of my circle. Sometimes I have the tendency to just stick with my static group of friends, and I really want to meet new people. I also love designing new products as a byproduct of my passion for fashion.
Wharton Global Youth: Tell us about Our Commuknitty, which, by the way, is spelled, K-N-I-T-T-Y. How do you source materials? And can you walk us through the upcycling process, starting with an old t-shirt, for example, and then creating an entirely new product from it?
Laura: First, we typically get the waste from local businesses in Jakarta. They’re usually tailors, because they produce a lot of waste, and they don’t really know how to repurpose them. Aside from tailors, we also host a lot of clothing drives in schools. And it’s not just one school. We do it at schools all over Jakarta. That’s because I have a lot of unofficial school chapters around Jakarta. Afterward, me and my team gather and we create the items. What we’re looking for are clothes that have a t-shirt-like material – cotton and very stretchy. We don’t like using satin-like materials or stiff materials, because it’s a little hard to turn them into yarn. Usually, the clothes that we aren’t able to repurpose into yarns, we keep them for future products. Maybe we’ll innovate along the way on how to use them, and sometimes we even donate them to charities.
We [also give clothes] to Yayasan Wisma Cheshire, which is the organization of handicapped artists in Jakarta. They fold the t-shirts, and then they cut them into strips, and after cutting them into strips, they somehow make it into a continuous long yarn, and they make it into a ball of yarn. Afterward, they’re going to knit them into coasters. Right now, we’re only knitting coasters, but we are thinking of making plushies as well, but that’s a future idea for later.
Wharton Global Youth: Do you train them?
Laura: Only certain workers, because these are professional artists. They already have a long history with craftsmanship. But some artists don’t know how to knit, so we teach them how to knit.
Wharton Global Youth: What does the data look like? How large has your organization become? And also, can you quantify the impact you’re making?
Laura: Currently, we’ve repurposed [more than] 100 kilograms of textile waste (more than 220 pounds), and we’ve created the system of counting our impact by estimating that for every one kilogram of shirt, it produces around five to six yarns. So far, we’ve created [more than] 40 yards, and that will probably approximate to 175 to 200 kilograms. Aside from that, we’ve also employed 15 handicapped artists. But our employability is completely seasonal right now. It’s not like a fixed employment. We also have 30 members, and two of them are from Boston and Philadelphia.
Wharton Global Youth: I wanted to talk to you about having partnerships in other cities. Can you describe what that looks like?
Laura: Right now, we have three active partnerships only in Jakarta. That’s because I find it hard to delegate everything internationally because I’m 11 hours ahead of America. Sometimes communication with the two members I just mentioned before is hard. And sometimes they also need someone to lean against, because I’m the leader of the group, so they don’t know what to do. Right now, I feel like that’s the biggest issue that we have. I haven’t solved it yet, but hopefully along the way, I’ll find a solution on how to solve it.
Wharton Global Youth: And before we leave talking about Our Commuknitty specifically and some of the activities you do, how does it work on the upcycling side? Do you sell the coasters to people and then put that money back into the organization?
Laura: Yes, we do sell the coasters. I like to find local bazaars. Usually, there’s a bulletin on Instagram. And I like to apply to be a seller there. Sometimes I even sell them in school, or I sell them to my family members. So, after we get our sales revenue from the coasters, we always give them back to the workers, so it’s completely nonprofit.
Wharton Global Youth: I want to talk about the Diana Award. Our Commuknitty won this prestigious award. Can you tell us more about that and why you feel you were selected for this honor?
Laura: I completely believe that I won the Diana Award because I champion some of Princess Diana’s values. One of them that I feel is very seen in my project is inclusivity. And that’s because I value inclusivity. I witnessed the work discrimination firsthand. What I noticed is that in Indonesia, the labor culture is not very diverse. You don’t see many people who are handicapped, for example, and that’s because they’re not given the opportunities by employers. They immediately discourage them from working. They outcast them. And I really don’t like that. I personally have a family member who is also disabled, and I find it very difficult to see that such a bright and intelligent woman is being refused work just because she was born disabled. Because of that, I realized that Our Commuknitty should not just focus on sustainability, it should champion other values as well. That’s why I focused on working together with Yayasan Wisma Cheshire because I want to give an opportunity to them, and I want to prove to everyone that even handicapped people can do it. If they are willing and they’re able, then they can definitely do it. I think that’s very similar to what Princess Diana has done in her life and [through her] charities. She has always been a people’s princess, and she’s always been very caring and very gentle. I feel like I champion those values a lot.
Wharton Global Youth: Let’s move on to Essentials of Entrepreneurship for a minute. How did the program that you came to over the summer at Wharton help to support or to accelerate your passion project? Can you give us one example of how the education had an impact on your work?
“From the Wharton Global Youth program, I discovered my passion for social entrepreneurship. I never even knew social entrepreneurship was a thing and had a formal terminology.” –Laura Simbolon
Laura: Before my Wharton education, I had no clue how people started a business. I just thought that they had an idea, and then they just did it. But I never really thought about the whole operation behind it or the ideation behind it. From the Wharton Global Youth program, I discovered my passion for social entrepreneurship, which never came to my mind. I never even knew social entrepreneurship was a thing. I never knew that it had a formal terminology. The most memorable quote that I got from the program is from my lecturer who said that entrepreneurship was “all about filling in the gaps.” That quote, “filling in the gaps” really stuck with me. It became the main framework for starting Our Commuknitty. I realized that textile waste and also inclusivity in Indonesia were major, overlooked gaps that no one that I knew was trying to address. The program allowed me to collaborate and also to meet with people from diverse backgrounds. I got to meet a lot of my friends that I’m still friends with right now from that program. I met the member who is from Philadelphia in the program. I created lifelong friendships and also business partners.
Wharton Global Youth: What has been your biggest challenge through all of this?
Laura: I would say, [turning] this business from a negative profit to a positive profit. At first, I was working in a negative profit margin; I owed my parents money because I needed to borrow their money. I didn’t know how to give it back to them. But I realized that business is all about finding the most efficient production costs. So that’s what I did. I tried to [source] cheaper materials – like, for example, fabric scissors. I tried to find a cheaper fabric scissor compared to the ones I used to use and lend them to the handicapped artists. From there, I was able to make it into a positive profit, and I was able to give back the money to my parents.
Wharton Global Youth: You did mention that you are hoping to make new products, like plushies. Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Laura: Right now, I’ve been having meetings with my members. I’m saying, ‘Okay guys, give me ideas. Give me good ideas that you think people our age would most likely buy.’ My nonprofit is completely democratic. I always listen to what my members have to say, and if the majority wins, then that’s what we’re going to do. So, my members said, ‘Okay, we need to make plushies.’ So, we’re already sketching the products. We’re thinking of making a plushie of our logo, which is a sheep. So, we’re thinking of doing that, but right now the main issue is how to create it, because, again, some artists are not well experienced with knitting, so we need to find a way to make time to teach them. Right now most of the members are in senior year. We have exams. It’s a very busy, tight schedule. But I think later in the summer, everything’s going to work out.
Wharton Global Youth: You will be graduating from high school soon. I talk to lots of students who put massive amounts of energy and time into building these types of projects, and then they leave for college or a job, and it all falls away. Sustainability has many meanings, right? How do you feel about that reality, and where does Our Commuknitty fit into your future?
Laura: I think it’s very unfortunate that a lot of students leave their meaningful work, because I believe that we’re all privileged and we should all give back to the community. I definitely see my project continuing in the future. I don’t intend to end it now or by the end of high school. Since I’m going to be moving to a whole different continent for college –maybe Europe or America — I hope I can make more chapters there. Maybe I can collaborate with the local people there to create these coasters or create the plushies and to create the yarns that way. Also, leadership and logistics would be easier. I also have a lot of members who are younger than me in Jakarta, so they’ll be in charge of the operations here and possibly in Asia. It’s going to be completely regional, the whole process of this organization. So maybe in the future, I’m going to be tackling the American or the European side, and my members here will tackle the Asian side.
Wharton Global Youth: The model seems like it’s very transferable, and you’ll be able to pick up where you left off.
Let’s end with our lightning round. Please answer these questions as quickly as you can.
What is something about you that would surprise us?
Laura: I wanted to be a historian, not an entrepreneur.
Wharton Global Youth: In a sentence, why does sustainability matter?
Laura: Because we have a responsibility to give back to nature.
Wharton Global Youth: Something about Jakarta that you really want the world to know.
Laura: Jakarta is nicknamed “The Durian.” The durian is our local fruit, or maybe it’s an Asian fruit, and it’s a very controversial fruit because it smells really bad. But a lot of people like the taste because it’s very unique. That’s kind of like an illusion of how people see Jakarta. A lot of people hate Jakarta because of the intense traffic, but a lot of people also love it because of the energy.
Wharton Global Youth: One way you practice sustainability outside of Our Commuknitty?
Laura: I always bring my own tote bag.
Wharton Global Youth: When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Laura: Last night, I finished a TV show that consisted of four seasons, and I usually have a very short attention span and leave after the first episode.
Wharton Global Youth: What TV show?
Laura: Sherlock Holmes.
Wharton Global Youth: In a few words, how will your generation make an impact as the future of the business world?
Laura: More ethically, hopefully, because we’re more confronted with what’s going on in the world.
Wharton Global Youth: You are starting your own business-themed talk show. Who is your first guest and what is your first question?
Laura: My first guest will be the CEO of Huda Beauty, Huda Kattan, and I would probably ask her: How do you overcome industry skepticism, especially in the makeup market, where competition is very tight?
Wharton Global Youth: Laura, this has been a lot of fun talking to you today. Thank you for joining us on Future of the Business World.
Laura: Thank you for inviting me.
Conversation Starters
What is textile waste and why is it a big problem in Indonesia?
Laura Simbolon believes her generation will make an impact through ethical pursuits. What do you think she means by this and do you agree with that assessment? How will ethics fit into your future?
Do you participate in some way in a social entrepreneurship venture? Share your story in the comment section of this article.
Before reading the interview with Laura Simbolon, Commuknitty’s creator, I thought that the term “textile waste” simply referred to the piles of leftover pieces of clothing that the store couldn’t sell before the arrival of the new collection. However, I now realize that textile waste accumulates with each step of the supply chain, especially during the manufacturing stage of the clothing. We all know that clothing brands outsource the production of their goods to other countries, but which countries are the true epicenters of this offshored production? I invite you to take a look through your clothes and count how many times you’ll read the words “Made in Indonesia” in small print on the tag. You’ll probably discover that a large fraction of your clothes were actually produced in Indonesia. And while this is not a negative thing, as it has helped Indonesia become the fastest growing economy (as Laura states), it also contributes to a large amount of textile waste and pollution. Thus, initiatives (like Commuknitty) were created by determined people like Laura, who are truly passionate to render textile production more sustainable by repurposing textile waste into new items.
What I truly admire about Commuknitty is that it incorporates a hobby near-and-dear to Laura’s heart, knitting, while also addressing a major environmental issue that affects her country and the world as a whole. Laura vows to keep Commuknity alive and thriving even after she goes on to university abroad, showing her commitment and devotion to her cause. In addition, Commuknitty is also dedicated to inclusivity, giving opportunities to handicap workers who usually face rejection from employment, especially in the textile manufacturing industry. All in all, Laura’s true love and passion towards causes such as reducing textile pollution and inclusivity in the workplace as well as her unwavering efforts are truly reflected in Commuknitty’s mission and success.
In terms of Laura’s statement on ethical production becoming more and more of a focus for this new generation, I couldn’t agree more. As we receive more knowledge on the environmental consequences of past production as well as the human conditions in manufacturing settings, we start to realize the true power of our decisions and should take measures to reduce their negative effects on our planet and our society. Instead of focusing solely on the cost of the products, I believe that Gen Z entrepreneurs like Laura should focus on the true mission of the brand as well as the effect the creation of the products has on the community. Whether I become an entrepreneur in the future or not, I vow to always research the conditions (both human and environmental) along each step of the supply chain before purchasing or creating a new product.
I really enjoyed your thorough take on Laura’s project and textile waste! While Indonesia’s economy is indeed growing rapidly, calling it “the fastest growing economy” globally is a strong claim that lacks consistent data; other nations often surpass it. Also, while manufacturing is a huge waste contributor, it’s worth noting that consumer overconsumption and fast fashion are equally massive drivers of textile waste, beyond just production. Lastly, for many global readers, the idea that “many of your clothes probably say ‘Made in Indonesia'” might be an overstatement given the dominance of other apparel manufacturing giants like Bangladesh and China.
Hi! Thank you so much for you prompt reply. Laura actually states herself in her interview that Indonesia is the fastest growing economy in the world (at the time she was interviewed). I also addressed in the beginning of my reply that textile waste is also created by mass consumption, but expounded more on the waste created during the manufacturing stage of the product since I, myself, had not thoroughly considered the polluting effects of textile production prior to reading the interview. Finally, I stated that a large part of clothes are produced in Indonesia, but I was careful not to state it as the main clothing manufacturer since there are also other countries who dominate the clothing production industry alongside Indonesia.
Hi Radina,
I really appreciated your thoughtful reflection — especially your invitation to inspect the tags on our clothes. You’re absolutely right: countries like Indonesia often serve as invisible engines of fast fashion, and I admire how you reframed textile waste as not just post-consumer leftovers, but a byproduct of every stage in the supply chain. That single insight alone deepens how we understand the problem.
I also resonate with your praise for Laura’s passion — especially how she embedded something personal (knitting) into something systemic (textile upcycling). That marriage of heart and impact is rare, and I think it’s what makes Commuknitty powerful. Still, I wonder if sustainability and inclusivity can thrive only within a nonprofit model. If Gen Z wants to change the global economy, shouldn’t we also learn how to work within it — building ventures that scale while keeping ethics at the center?
You mentioned that we should research the conditions behind every purchase. I agree in principle, but I’ll admit — sometimes I find myself torn between wanting to support sustainable brands and not being able to afford them. It made me realize that personal responsibility, while crucial, can’t be the only lever. We also need to challenge systems that make fast fashion the cheapest option and ethical production a luxury.
Perhaps the true mission of Gen Z entrepreneurship is not just to build conscious brands — but to redefine what “normal” looks like in business. Like you, I hope to be part of that shift.
Thanks for helping me see the issue more clearly. What do you think are the first steps to make ethical production affordable and accessible — not just admirable?
Hi Anurag,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. While I do agree that sustainable brands often sell their products at high prices, I think it is important to be aware of the quality of the product and how long it can be used. For example, while the price of a necklace from a company that uses real gold is higher than that of a company that uses cheaper metals, the real gold necklace can last much longer and even be passed on to others, whereas the cheaper necklace would have to be repurchased various times due to its poorer quality. While we live in a society that pushes constant purchase of cheap products, I think that purchasing quality products at a higher initial price can be more cost effective in the long run.
In addition, fast fashion brands rely on always producing clothing that is in line with the newest trends. However, with the constant growth of social media, trends come and go quicker and quicker, thus resulting in large amounts of textile waste by fast fashion companies. A way for sustainable brands to become more financially accessible would be to become more “trend-conscious” by producing smaller amounts of clothes that follow current trends and focusing more on timeless pieces that would be purchased more consistently.
Hi Anurag,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. While I do agree that sustainable brands often sell their products at high prices, I think it is important to take into consideration the quality and the amount of time the product can be used for. For example, a necklace from a company that uses real gold will be more expensive than a necklace from a company that uses cheaper metals. However, the necklace made of real gold will last much longer and can even passed on to others, whereas the necklace made from cheaper metals will have to be repurchased various times due to its poorer quality. Thus, although sustainable products may have a higher initial price, I believe they are ultimately more cost-effective in the long run.
In addition, fast fashion brands rely on mass producing clothing that is currently on trend. However, with the rise and growth of social media, trends come and go quicker and quicker, thus resulting in large amounts of textile waste for fast fashion companies. A way for sustainable brands to be more financially accessible would be to be more “trend-conscious” by producing currently trendy clothing in smaller quantities and focusing on timeless pieces that would be purchased more consistently.
Commuknitty has significant potential to grow as a business rather than remaining a non-profit organization. Waste cloth can be easily purchased in bulk from textile manufacturers at marginal costs, and repurposed into a variety of products beyond plushies and coasters such as bookmarks, wall hangings, and other handcrafted items. By marketing these products as eco-friendly or “good for the planet”, Commuknitty can easily attract climate-conscious consumers and institutions like offices and schools.
There is considerable gross margin potential in this business model. As mentioned by Laura in her interview, Commuknitty has so far repurposed only around 100 kg of cloth. A shift from a non-profit to a for-profit model could allow the organization to scale significantly, potentially employing hundreds of disabled workers and generating substantial profit, all while maintaining a strong social impact.
Dakshesh, I really enjoyed your advice on helping Commuknitty develop and thrive, particularly by purchasing fabric in bulk (for low prices) from factories and diversifying the types of items offered for sale. Buying in bulk will not only allow Commuknitty to have access to more fabric and therefore create more repurposed products, but it will also help boost productivity and efficiency at a lower price. Furthermore, increasing the range of products offered from just plush toys and coasters to different household goods such as bookmarks and wall hangings will help Commuknitty gain more revenue and grow in popularity, while continuing to rely on handcrafting instead of industrial manufacturing to produce their items.
However, I disagree with your claim that switching Commuknitty from a non-profit to a for-profit organization will be beneficial to its growth. Non-profits, by definition, must invest all the revenue they have (after paying their workers, purchasing materials, etc.) back into the development of their company. Thus, if Commuknitty were to become a for-profit organization, the CEO (in this case, Laura) could keep the money that the company has made for themselves instead of using it to scale their company. This could ultimately slow down the growth of the enterprise, as it receives less funding and investment. Last but not least, turning Commuknitty into a for-profit organization disengages from its original focus on sustainability and inclusion over financial profits.
The summer of 2024 (going into junior year) was the “prime time” that everyone said I should be going studying for my SAT and prepping for my college applications. “Building up my specs” as my dad would say. But rather than spending all my time on SAT workbooks and the digital SAT question bank, I was able to partake in an entrepreneurship lab. Dedicating most of my summer and week days to this lab I was able to just like Laura, create a business, Rescue Ingredients that would contribute back to my community. “Filling in the gaps,” just as Laura referenced in this article explains the process that I was told to take by guest mentors of successful entrepreneurial businesses themselves.
The summer going into my junior year was supposed to be my “prime time” for SAT prep and college application work. “Build up your specs,” as my dad liked to say, usually while eyeing my untouched SAT workbook. But instead of spending every day buried in test prep, I chose to dedicate my summer to something that felt equally, if not more, meaningful: an entrepreneurship lab.
Through this experience, I didn’t just learn about business, I had the opportunity to build one and get funded for it through a series of weekly competitions, presentations and elevator pitches. Inspired by conversations with guest mentors and guidance from peers, I along with my team of other rising juniors created Rescue Ingredients, a platform that helps connect restaurants with surplus food to local communities in need. Like Laura in the article, I identified a gap, in my case, the disconnect between food waste and food insecurity, and tried to fill it with something sustainable and impactful.
At the start of the lab, we listened to successful entrepreneurs about their journey in crafting a business that succeeded despite the challenges that they faced. But for me, the most captivating part of each lecture was the story that brought about the creation of their business idea. How the idea bloomed into something truly tangible was not only inspiring but also motivating. One of the mentors detailed her story about traveling around different parts of underprivileged countries where she noticed older generations of women and the lack of skin care access that had. Driven by their circumstances she conducted tests of her own skincare on the women there and recorded the progression. From this research she was able to create a specific molecule in her skin care that defined her brand which she also patented to ensure her work would stay hers while helping women all over the world.
The first step in creating a business was identifying a “gap” in the world that I felt genuinely passionate about just as Laura did.
That moment of clarity came from an experience the year before, when I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a humanitarian medical aid mission. During the trip, I had the opportunity to work closely with middle and high school students in under-resourced communities.
Specifically one day was designated for visiting families in their homes and helping repaint their houses. But that experience quickly opened my eyes to the food and water disparities these communities faced every day. While their lives looked very different from mine, just a four-hour plane ride away, I couldn’t stop thinking about the families struggling to access basic meals while back home, so much food was being thrown away without a second thought.
That realization ultimately became the inspiration for Rescue Ingredients. I wanted to create a platform that addressed this imbalance, reducing food waste while redirecting surplus to where it’s truly needed. It was a small way to respond to a much larger issue, but the starting point for meaningful change.
So Laura I want to truly applaud you for the work that you were able to do and achieve for your community!
Visit Rescue Ingredients Page: unbouncepages.com/rescueingredients
The summer going into my junior year was supposed to be my “prime time” for SAT prep and college application work. “Build up your specs,” as my dad liked to say, usually while eyeing my untouched SAT workbook. But instead of spending every day buried in test prep, I chose to dedicate my summer to something that felt equally, if not more, meaningful: an entrepreneurship lab.
Through this experience, I didn’t just learn about business, I had the opportunity to build one and get funded for it through a series of weekly competitions, presentations and elevator pitches. Inspired by conversations with guest mentors and guidance from peers, I along with my team of other rising juniors created Rescue Ingredients, a platform that helps connect restaurants with surplus food to local communities in need. Like Laura in the article, I identified a gap, in my case, the disconnect between food waste and food insecurity, and tried to fill it with something sustainable and impactful.
At the start of the lab, we listened to successful entrepreneurs about their journey in crafting a business that succeeded despite the challenges that they faced. But for me, the most captivating part of each lecture was the story that brought about the creation of their business idea. How the idea bloomed into something truly tangible was not only inspiring but also motivating. One of the mentors detailed her story about traveling around different parts of underprivileged countries where she noticed older generations of women and the lack of skin care access that had. Driven by their circumstances she conducted tests of her own skincare on the women there and recorded the progression. From this research she was able to create a specific molecule in her skin care that defined her brand which she also patented to ensure her work would stay hers while helping women all over the world.
The first step in creating a business was identifying a “gap” in the world that I felt genuinely passionate about just as Laura did.
That moment of clarity came from an experience the year before, when I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a humanitarian medical aid mission. During the trip, I had the opportunity to work closely with middle and high school students in under-resourced communities.
One of the days I was there was designated for visiting families in their homes and villages to repaint their houses. But that experience quickly opened my eyes to the food and water disparities these communities faced every day. While their lives looked very different from mine, just a four-hour plane ride away, I couldn’t stop thinking about the families struggling to access basic meals while back home, so much food was being thrown away without a second thought.
That realization ultimately became the inspiration for Rescue Ingredients. I wanted to create a platform that addressed this imbalance, reducing food waste while redirecting surplus to where it’s truly needed. It was a small way to respond to a much larger issue, but the starting point for meaningful change.
So Laura I want to truly applaud you for the work that you were able to do and achieve for your community!
Visit Rescue Ingredients Page: unbouncepages.com/rescueingredients
I recycle and try to be mindful about waste, but I never really considered how much damage old clothes do to the planet. The fact that she’s not just tackling textile waste but also creating jobs for differently abled artists is next level inspiring. It’s crazy how one person’s idea can actually make a difference. Our generation is more aware of global issues, but awareness doesn’t always mean action. Kinda makes me want to look around my own community for gaps like she did. And coming from Pakistan, where I see poverty in so many forms, this article has changed my perspective: what seemed problem till now is an opportunity indeed. Maybe there’s something small I could start, even if it’s just organizing a clothing drive at school.
What about you guys? Ever thought about turning a hobby into something bigger for local community, or is the idea too overwhelming?
Hey Ahmed,
Your comment really resonated with me — especially that shift you describe, from seeing a problem to spotting an opportunity. That’s a mindset shift with the power to change everything, and I admire how honestly you shared it.
I’ve felt something similar. I used to think that big ideas had to wait until I was older or had “more time.” But I’ve slowly come to realize that starting small doesn’t mean thinking small. Even a school clothing drive — like the one you mentioned — can spark awareness, build habits, and lead to something bigger. The key is to just start somewhere.
To answer your question: yes, I’ve been working to turn a passion into community impact. I’m building a social initiative to replace exploitative cycle rickshaws in my city with modular electric carts designed for both safety and dignity. It’s in the planning phase now, but like Laura’s work, it was born from asking: What if our solutions didn’t just reduce harm — but also elevated those who are usually excluded?
That’s what I loved most about Commuknitty — not just the environmental focus, but the deep respect for people often left behind. Inclusivity is too often treated like an afterthought; here, it’s baked into the business model.
You mentioned you’re from Pakistan — I imagine there are local artisans, tailors, even scrap vendors who know the textile ecosystem inside-out. What if your school’s clothing drive could double as a way to connect with them? Sometimes those who are closest to the problem are holding the keys to the solution — we just need to listen differently.
Thanks for this reflection. You’ve reminded me how global these issues really are — and how local our actions can still be.
You asked if any of us have tried turning a hobby into something for the community — for me, it’s become the foundation of everything I’m building. I’ve been working on Tirare (https://tirare.tech/), a social impact initiative to replace unsafe, exploitative cycle rickshaws in Indian cities with modular electric carts designed for both environmental sustainability and human dignity. It began with an observation — just like yours — that what looks like a “problem” might actually be an overlooked system waiting to be reimagined.
We’re still in the early Blueprint & Research phase, but here’s our pitch deck if you’re curious. Like Laura’s work, Tirare isn’t just about the product — it’s about restoring pride and opportunity to the people who use it. The tech matters, but the people matter more.
After reading this article, I am impressed how strong of a focus Laura’s nonprofit has on pursuing social entrepreneurship in an ethical manner, generously giving back to her community by reusing nature’s discarded resources. In addition, I greatly admire her efforts to incorporate handicapped individuals who have been denied jobs by working with Yayasan Wisma Cheshire, increasing the equity of labor in her community through providing new opportunities. Laura emphasizes that textile waste is predicted to grow to an alarming amount in Indonesia within the next five years, and because textiles are among the top pollutants in landfills that fuel global warming inducing greenhouse gases, this could lead to a concerningly large-scale environmental crisis in the near future. I think that Laura’s work as an entrepreneur and sense of responsibility to the wellbeing of our planet is truly inspiring to me, because as a fellow crocheter, I realize how much waste is generated in the creation of textiles. After creating a sweater, I have a small amount of yarn that seems too small to start a project with and too large to fully discard. Her creative use of leftovers makes me wonder how I should make use of my own remaining materials. I was planning on opening my own Etsy shop for my crochet creations, but after seeing how Laura was able to effectively repurpose these materials, I would like to take inspiration from this and also incorporate sustainable textiles into my creations. However, while repurposing wasted materials is an ethical cause, plushies may not be necessarily the most useful item and could potentially also end up as waste, back to where it started. Speaking from personal experience, my stuffed toys from childhood are currently sitting in the closet, without a use. Coasters I have made in the past are stuffed into drawers, gathering dust. Perhaps if the nonprofit produced items that helped underprivileged communities, it could have a more positive impact. As the President of my high school’s Knitting and Crochet club, I have helped set up volunteering opportunities as a way for members to donate hats and scarfs during the cold winter months to my community’s local senior home and homeless shelter, which are objects that seem to be quite useful for most of the year. Next year, I plan to take the club in a new direction by organizing donation drives to repurpose clothing so that we can truly minimize the dangerous environmental impacts from textile waste and our club’s yarn scraps.
As a crocheter and knitter myself, I’m intrigued by Laura’s creative process of transforming discarded cotton clothing into yarn and then into coasters. While reducing textile waste, Laura simultaneously creates meaningful job opportunities for handicapped artists in Jakarta. This twofold impact demonstrates not only her ability to bring people together but her deep commitment to sustainability and social change. I have to admit, during COVID, I was caught up in wanting clothes from places like Shein to keep up with trends. Laura’s commitment to reducing textile waste makes me more aware of how much the fast fashion industry contributes to environmental damage. Reading this article challenged me to think more intentionally about my own purchasing decisions and consider the full lifecycle of the items I buy. As her nonprofit grows, I wonder if there might be opportunities to sell the repurposed yarn too. It could help fund the organization while getting more people interested in sustainable materials.
Laura’s quote about “filling in the gaps” particularly resonates with me as a young person trying to figure out how to apply my skills toward positive social impact. This concept has inspired me to look for similar opportunities in my own community. As a high school student dealing with the typical pressures of grades, extracurriculars, and decisions, I’ve experienced firsthand how stress can overwhelm students who are making more independent choices while having less time for mental breaks.
Recognizing that many of my peers faced similar challenges, I worked with my school’s academic counselor to organize crochet sessions in the counseling office. These sessions give students a chance to learn a new skill while decompressing, especially during stressful periods like final exams. My friends were eager to participate, and one even told me that while crocheting, “there was not one thought that went through her head during that time.” Like Laura’s work, these sessions demonstrate how crochet can go beyond creation purely for aesthetics. These crafts build community and provide therapeutic benefits.
Laura’s project also reminds me a lot of “Knitted Knockers,” a nonprofit that provides free breast prostheses made by volunteers for cancer survivors. After learning about this organization through a close mentor whose loved one had breast cancer, I signed up to contribute my crochet skills. It’s amazing how our crafting abilities can address such meaningful needs in our communities. Laura’s ability to find purpose through her craft while building community connections gives me hope that her organization will continue to flourish. Thank you for sharing her story!
Hey Sarah,
Your comment felt like a letter I didn’t know I needed to read. The way you intertwined your reflections on craft, stress relief, fast fashion guilt, and community healing through crochet really moved me. There’s something quietly radical about how you’re using yarn — not just to make coasters or comfort objects, but to stitch safety, silence, and care into a high school world often defined by pressure. That one line your friend said — “there was not one thought that went through her head during that time” — stayed with me.
You asked if Laura might consider selling the yarn itself — and that made me think: when something carries both story and sustainability, it becomes more than a product. It becomes a vessel. In that spirit, I wanted to share my own project, Tirare. It’s not yarn-based — it’s mobility-based — but it shares the same soul: turning overlooked waste and undervalued labor into dignity.
Tirare is a social impact initiative I’m building in India to replace cycle rickshaws — which are often unsafe and exploitative — with modular electric carts that center human dignity, sustainability, and self-worth. Like you, I realized that healing systems sometimes begins with reclaiming slowness, noticing invisible pain, and asking: What if we used what we already have, but reimagined its purpose entirely?
We’re still in the early Blueprint & Research stage, but here’s our deck. I’d actually love your input as a maker — what stories would you want those carts to tell? What textures, aesthetics, or materials would feel right if the goal is restoration, not just transportation?
Reading your work, I see a truth we often forget: yarn isn’t just thread. It’s memory. Labor. Breath. Community. What you’ve created in those counseling office sessions is exactly what business needs to be — not a race to build, but a reason to heal.
Here’s to you, to Laura, to crafting change.
” Entrepreneurship is about filling the gaps”
– Laura Simbolon
This article featuring the entrepreneur Laura Simbolon, who has built a platform to not only empower the textile industry, the economy and the enviorment but the overlooked communities that persist in our society. Through reading about her work on Our Commuknitty it taught me that a business is shaped through so much more that a mirage of ideas, it stands as a rendition of future hopes, current issues and inclusion in todays world.
As a fellow Indonesian student, I have seen firsthand the detrimental drawbacks of how the fast fashion industry has affected landfills with textile waste, standing as a prominent driver in fact. “Gaps” are identified through observation and experience, we all have different gaps to fill in own fences, fences off morally corrupt officials and practices stopping society from overcoming issues like sustainability.”The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” a quote credited to Steve Jobs, Laura did not only incorporate her hobby/passion into a business , but she managed to centralize a whole operation with it. Similarly I myself is currently an IGCSE student going onto my sophmore year Laura has not only showed me that what you love can be expanded into a business , it also shows me that dreams do not have an expiration date.Despite Setbacks like the perception of textile waste being futile or useless and the horizons that many people cannot forsee for differently abled youth ,Laura turned a passion to an ACTION.
Keeping the gaps filled is just as paramount as filling the gaps, not only by identifying the detriments of textile waste and primary drivers of it, Our Communknitty shows the persistence of inclusion and sustainability. Mentioned in the article that about 100kg of textile has been repurposed and supplied to Yayasan Wisma Cheshire ( handicapped artist) to turn them into art , it shows that Lauras efforts extends to farther than a symbolic change, but are tangible as well. Surrounded by several differently abled individuals, it is always saddening to witness the ubiquitous talent and uniqueness that is overlooked by employers when looking at differently abled individuals, this taught me that a lack of empathy has always persisted in traditional industries like the textile industry, Our Communiknitty reforms norms by using Ethics as a blueprint rather than a marketing standpoint. Reinforcing my personal belief as well as what Laura has quoted the way in which the newer generations has run projects ” More ethically”.
As an affiliate of this said generation, Ive come to understand that real change doesn’t come from waiting, it comes from weaving passion into purpose. As of now, my life can be seen as the time to reach greater academic heights , a timely opportunity. Reading this article has taught me that a timely opportunity is making change TODAY. Being completely frank, I as an individual fail I often fail to see the longhaul focusing on only the times I fall, failure has always been an anxious topic for me especially since I feel like it cracks the glass everytime it happens, distorting my image. But Laura has taught me to see myself as a Phoenix, every failure (shot) allows me to burn brighter.Our Communiknitty reflects the very spirit, it is not build on privilege or convenience, but rather resilience . That energy is what I aim to bring as a student who hopes to make an impact, not despite setbacks but because of them.
Hey Laura,
I didn’t expect this to hit the way it did.
A few years ago, I had a friend. We weren’t doing anything — just hanging out. And then a ball came flying out of nowhere and hit him in the head. Just a random, stupid moment. Since then, he’s been different. Still here. Still alive. But something’s… gone. And no one talks about it.
That’s one of the reasons I want to become a doctor. Not to get a title. Not even just to help. But to see. To look at someone fully, and not take for granted what they still have.
What you’re doing — it’s not just turning trash into yarn. It’s turning forgotten people into someone the world notices again. I respect that a lot.
I’m building something too. It’s called Tirare. We’re trying to replace the cycle carts still being pulled across India. In Delhi and Kolkata, I’ve seen old men — really old — dragging carts for ₹200 a day. I’ve seen animals collapsing in the street. Everyone just walks by.
That’s not sustainability. That’s violence we’ve normalized.
You said entrepreneurship is about filling the gaps. I think sometimes, it’s about just not looking away.
So here’s my question:
When this gets bigger — when Our Commuknitty grows and more people want in — how will you keep it real? How will you protect the reason you started, and not let it turn into just another feel-good project that forgets what it’s actually fighting for?
Thanks from the deepest part of my heart for doing what you do.
I genuinely loved reading Laura’s tale not only because her efforts are great, but also because it ties in with my own heritage. My father is from Malaysia, which isn’t very far from Indonesia, so I’ve always heard about Southeast Asia’s difficulties and splendor. The way Laura is tackling environment and society concerns through Our Commuknitty really speaks to me.
Textile waste is such an enormous global issue, but no one notices especially in developing economies like Indonesia or even Malaysia. Fashion is faster than ever, and we simply do not consider where all the “out-of-fashion” clothes go. It’s shocking to think that millions of tons of textile waste fill up landfills and release harmful greenhouse gases from mere old t-shirts alone.
What I like most about Laura’s process is that it’s not really about making yarn or recycling. It’s inclusivity and opening doors to others who are often excluded. As someone always worried about doing the right thing and helping other people out, I liked that she chose to work with differently abled artists. It makes me see that sustainability is not just about the planet it’s about people as well.
Laura said that sustainability means having a responsibility to give back to nature. I’d add that it’s also about giving back to each other. And like she said, it’s about “filling in the gaps” spotting where something’s broken or ignored and doing something about it.
Her story caused me to think about starting something similar myself maybe even tying it to my Malaysian background. There is so much potential to bring her model global. Who knows? Maybe one day Our Communitty will have an outpost in Malaysia or even here in the States, and I’d be delighted to be along for that ride.
Laura’s generation our generation is definitely more conscience-and more dedicated to getting it right. I think that’s why, because we’re growing up in a world where we can’t ignore these issues. And that gives me hope for the future.
Hi Yara,
Your comment really moved me — especially your reflection that “sustainability is not just about the planet, it’s about people as well.” That perfectly captures the heart of what I’ve been working on too.
I’m from India, and for the past year I’ve been developing a social enterprise called Tirare — a modular electric cart system designed to replace the exploitative cycle rickshaws that dominate many developing cities. These carts don’t just reduce labor strain and pollution — they’re built to uplift the informal workforce, offering dignity, safety, and long-term economic growth. Like Laura, I realized that filling the environmental gap wasn’t enough unless we were also addressing human injustice baked into the system.
Your hope that Our Commuknitty might expand to Malaysia made me smile — because I believe this entire region, from Indonesia to India to Malaysia, holds immense untapped potential for ethical innovation rooted in empathy. If Laura’s model ever reaches Malaysia, or if yours someday begins there, I’d love to be part of the journey.
And who knows — maybe one day your vision and mine might even intersect.
Warmly,
Anurag Mishra
https://tirare.tech
Fiber to Fashion
While reading this article, I was reminded of the five years that I lived in India, where, on my grandparents’ farm in Tamil Nadu, I utilized banana fiber, which we extracted from banana stem post-harvest to make sarees and kurtis and then dye them with indigo and turmeric. This article resonates with me because it conveys a message necessary for the world: find value in what others see as waste. It also conveys another key message: include people of all abilities and inspire others to be change makers.
Growing up with strabismus (crossed eyes), it was incredibly difficult for me to achieve the intricate stitches required to make clothing, especially with thin banana fiber. Despite that, I persevered because I wanted to make a meaningful difference to my community, so I taught my younger cousins and sisters how to knit, and every piece we made was distributed to local under-resourced communities. This aromatic blend of social impact and entrepreneurship is what fuels my excitement for the future of business using sustainable resources.
It’s a simple, yet powerful and empowering reminder that innovative solutions start with simple ideas and a sense of community—and that businesses with the most significant impact—like the one I will lead—start by uplifting their communities. And sometimes, what we consider trash, leads us to uncover treasure.
As a sustainability-minded dancer, I’ve been working on launching a nonprofit initiative to collect and redistribute unused dancewear and costumes, helping reduce textile waste and extend the life of garments that would otherwise end up in landfills. The United States is one of the world’s largest consumers of textiles, generating approximately 17 million tons of textile waste annually, with only 2.5 million tons recycled. According to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency, about 11.3 million tons of that waste are landfilled each year.
That’s why organizations like Laura’s Commuknitty are so inspiring. Laura’s initiative gives new life to dance wear and costumes that can’t be reused, particularly those made from cotton blends or stretchy materials, by turning them into knitting products like coasters, while creating job opportunities for handicapped artists. What a creative and compassionate endeavor!
Laura, I am eager to see your next wave of product innovations, especially for materials that can’t be repurposed into yarns. Many dance costumes are made from decorative or delicate fabrics like spandex, tulle, sequins, satin, or velvet. While these materials may not be ideal for coasters on their own, they can serve beautifully as accent layers, adding color, texture, and personality to your designs. As your work continues to grow and reach more communities, I’m confident that your creativity will keep turning textile waste into craft, opportunity, and purpose.
Hi Laura, thank you so much for sharing your project with us! I found your journey to be extremely intriguing, since it’s a topic that is often neglected. Prior to reading this article, I had never heard of the term textile waste, despite the scale of the issue. You mentioned that Indonesia is projected to produce about 3.9 million tons of textile waste in 2030, and surprisingly, I found that I wasn’t startled by this number. With all the fashion trends that are becoming popular yearly, even monthly, it’s not surprising that many countries around the world are producing a lot of textile waste. Along with the rise of social media comes mass consumerism and fast fashion, which has its economic benefits, but ultimately hurts our environment.
Personally, I recognize that I have contributed to this pattern of mass consumerism. Whenever I scroll through social media, I see videos of cute outfits in different trending styles: “coquette,” “balletcore,” “clean girl,” “Y2K,” “old money,” and more. I always love the aesthetic (my page knows me too well!), and so I am consistently urged to find clothes that fall into these styles. You may think this means only buying one item, but no no no, you would be very wrong! One piece of clothing can never be enough to embody the style. For instance, one week, I was drawn to the “coquette” style, which is characterized by soft colors and ribbons. I bought this really cute soft pink “coquette” top and high rise skirt, but when they arrived, I realized that the outfit wasn’t exactly how I had imagined it…and now, looking back, I have only worn that top once. Today, it sits at the very back of my closet, alongside multiple other social media trendy items.
To make matters worse, fast fashion makes the majority of the clothes thrown away non-donatable, whether because of their size, quality, or condition. When I was much younger, whenever I grew out of my clothing, my mother and I would donate the old clothes. However, now, the donation center has tightened their guidelines, and many of the clothes do not meet their standard. Smaller donation centers (the ones near me) often prioritize practicality over trendiness, which leads to most of the “fashionable” items being rejected. However, they still accept my father’s gently worn jeans and tops, indicating the preference for more durable clothing that can benefit others in need. Today, a lot of clothing is becoming more fashionable than practical, often aiming for shorter cuts and trendy designs. When these items are rejected by the center, they would often end up in landfills contributing to the textile waste. According to earth.org, around 92 million tonnes of garments end up in landfills per year, which means that the equivalent of a rubbish truck of clothes end up in landfill sites every second. Moreover, fast fashion items often use synthetic fabrics due to their low cost and durability, but they are extremely harmful to the environment. Synthetic fabrics do not biodegrade, which means that they take more than hundreds of years to break down.
I really liked your idea of converting discarded textiles to yarn and then creating new products out of it, which I found to be super innovative and cutting edge. By repurposing the textile waste that would otherwise become landfill, and instead manufacturing useful items such as coasters, your organization is reducing the demand for new raw materials, as well as reducing the environmental burden of pollution. This project is not only a challenge towards textile waste, but also one towards overconsumption driven by social media trends. This is what I would consider a win-win situation!
In addition, it was eye-opening to learn about how your organization employs differently abled artists. If you look at the unemployment rates between differently abled people and those without, you’ll notice a significant difference, whether in the US or in other countries around the world. It’s really inspiring to see how your organization doesn’t only practice sustainability on the environmental level, but also on the social one. Opportunities like these for differently abled communities are very rare, and it’s commendable that CommuKnitty is championing an ethical approach in both aspects.
Overall, I think social media and mass consumption plays an enormous role in the amount of textile waste. Social media constantly glamorizes new fashion trends, but tends to conveniently overlook the environmental determinants of synthetic fabrics. We as consumers need to stay mindful that although trendy clothes may look stylish at the moment, they are not made to last. Therefore, we need to stay mindful that these same trendy clothes often end up becoming textile waste and harming our environment. If we can become more mindful of what clothing we purchase and what happens to it after we no longer want it, we could significantly reduce textile waste. Once again, thank you for bringing this topic into view for us.
Hi Stephanie,
Your comment deeply resonated with me — especially the moment you described the pink “coquette” outfit now sitting in the back of your closet. That small anecdote is, in many ways, a mirror for an entire system. One where trends move faster than ethics, and where materials built to last centuries are worn for a single season.
Like you, I used to think textile waste was mostly a storage or aesthetics problem. But reading stories like Laura’s — and reflecting on the systemic nature of this crisis — helped me see how textile waste is actually a justice issue: environmental, yes, but also economic and social.
That realization inspired me to start Tirare — a project in India where we’re reimagining cycle rickshaws into modular electric carts. These aren’t just vehicles; they’re meant to transform lives. The goal is similar to Laura’s: reduce invisible exploitation in labor markets while repurposing harmful systems (like carbon-emitting transport) into something community-led and sustainable.
What you said about how even donations are now failing — because fashion has traded practicality for trend — really stuck with me. It makes it all the more urgent that we rethink not just what we throw away, but what we value in the first place. Projects like Our Commuknitty and others around the world aren’t just “solutions” — they’re reminders that design itself can be ethical. That aesthetics and sustainability don’t have to be opposites.
Thank you for your honesty and insight. The way you unpacked your own consumer behavior and linked it to systemic harm is exactly the kind of reflection our generation needs. I’d love to stay connected — and if you’re curious about Tirare, you can visit tirare.tech.
Warmly,
Anurag Mishra
I never knew what a big deal textile waste was. It has never crossed my mind as a particularly huge problem, such as more pressing issues like world hunger. Through Laura’s numbers of the tons of waste that are projected to grow, I am shocked at how rapidly the numbers climb. I have seen first hand in Bangladesh the amount of clothes produced, my eyes drawing to all the colorful items at literally every corner I turned. There are both fancy shops displaying tailored items while vendors sell factory rejects. Although I’ve seen a small slice of this issue, Laura’s numbers contribute to helping me understand the extent of this problem and making me wonder ways of trying to combat this very specifically.
Luckily, her nonprofit, Our Communknitty, has led clothes that were predicted to end their life in the landfill to transform into beautifully knitted coasters. That, I find, is some ingenuity in the making, especially trying to tackle it in the place that seems to project the most growth in waste products in the coming years. While people have come up with many ways to overcome textile waste, the media has never told me that things are being done on a large-scale.
I think, even with Laura’s nonprofit, it’s so important, now more than ever, to curate social media posts to reach an intended audience in advising what to do before throwing clothes away– new or old. Perhaps when she and her team hold clothing drives, they could also make signs in attempts to emphasize the textile waste problem and in spreading the word to other places that might not have clothing drives. Often, clothing drives might be further away depending on where one lives so it might feel convenient to just simply throw them away. I believe that even if a clothing drive might be too far away, simple suggestions from social media posts on how to reuse/repurpose clothes easily could serve as a reminder so consumers might think twice before throwing something away.
Laura mentioned how they don’t use “satin-like materials or stiff materials” because it’s more difficult to turn them into yarn. She also mentioned how those materials are kept in order for them to decide on another project or are donated to local charities. I might have a different proposition. While I’m not against donating these materials to local charities, I believe that these could be repurposed just as easily as the “cotton and very stretchy” clothes that Laura and her team usually look for– just with a different project in mind. Instead, they could make everyday accessories such as bows or headbands, potentially increasing profits for Our Commuknitty.
As this nonprofit organization is gaining more attention, there’s more desire to make a difference not just in Indonesia but in other regions of the world as well. While Laura expresses the difficulty of offering help to members in the United States because of the +11 hour time difference, I think that there’s a way around this. Textile waste is not just a problem in Indonesia but in other places globally because clothes are a big necessity for society, whether you’re going for a fashionable style or more comfy cozy. Because these problems lay literally everywhere, I think the best way would be for Laura to train other leaders under her wing who would be willing to travel to other countries. There, they would start gathering more members and continue similar projects which Laura had started in Jakarta.
While I understand that maintaining a global nonprofit could be difficult, nothing is impossible and with time and the right amount of effort, I believe that Our Commuknitty is capable of changing the world. One cloth at a time.
Isn’t it unsettling how much a simple discarded t-shirt reveals about our global choices and priorities? As someone who also built a start up project tackling fast fashion during Essentials of Entrepreneurship summer program, I stay appalled by how modern capitalism fuels industries that value unethically earned profits over human dignity and environmental sustainability.
Due to my personal concerns and strong feelings toward this issue, Laura’s story feels extremely urgent. I admire Laura because instead of just watching foreign conglomerates profit off her dear country’s resources and contributing to local waste, she took action. Laura refused to mimic exploitative practices and created a sense of purpose for many by providing employment for differently abled workers. She effectively fights for inclusivity, leaving no place for traditional capitalistic practices which immediately exclude those with a ‘less profitable’ badge. Laura and the creation of Commuknitty itself gave me hope that not all people are materialistic enablers who strive only for comfort.
As I fully support Laura’s mission, I believe that expanding her non-profit internationally through creating small local teams and micro-leaders which can combine Laura’s values with local needs, will definitely be beneficial to the world.
Hearing Laura’s story and the words ‘entrepreneurship is about filling in the gaps’, led me to a reflection that social entrepreneurship can truly be an ethical imperative, which brings hope in a world that often values profit over purpose. I would even argue that entrepreneurship not only fills the gaps, but shapes what humans and economies dare to value.
Textile waste is the part of the fashion industry that people do not talk about. It comes from leftover fabrics, damaged clothes, or mass production that does not think about what happens after. In Indonesia, where the textile industry is growing fast, this waste is adding more pollution, more harm to communities, and more long-term damage to nature. Laura’s story made me think about how fast fashion often forgets the people and the planet behind the product.
I agree with Laura when she says our generation will lead with ethical pursuits. But ethics should not have just one meaning. Different people, with different roles, will think about ethics in different ways. A business founder might see ethics as creating fair jobs. A teacher might see it as including every student. For me, ethics means designing ideas that do not leave anyone behind. It means thinking about who is affected, even if they are not in the room. It means building with awareness and not just ambition.
I believe in social entrepreneurship as a real business model. It is not just doing good. It is doing smart business that solves real problems. A business that helps people and nature is still a business. It can grow, make revenue, and create change. Social ventures are not weaker ideas. They are stronger, because they think long-term.
I take part in my school’s Friday Clean-Up project. Every week, we help clean the areas around us. It is simple, but it taught me a lot. Impact is not always loud. It starts with taking responsibility. That is how I see ethics fitting into my future. Not as a rule, but as a mindset that changes how we build, lead, and live.
I’ve read lots of stories about young entrepreneurs tackling climate change, but very few that focus on textile waste and disability inclusion, especially in Southeast Asia. That’s what makes Laura’s story stand out. Her project opened my eyes to issues I hadn’t fully considered — like how people with disabilities are often excluded from labor markets, or how fast fashion’s global impacts look different in countries like Indonesia, where much of the world’s clothing is produced.
As a high school student living halfway across the world, I’ve been taught to think about sustainability mostly in terms of recycling or reducing plastic. But Laura’s approach is broader and more human. It’s about redesigning systems that fail both the planet and the people in it. Before reading this, I hadn’t thought much about how sustainability intersects with employment, dignity, and community building.
What resonated most was the idea that social entrepreneurship means “filling in the gaps.” Not just gaps in the market, but gaps in empathy. Laura isn’t waiting until college or adulthood to address those gaps. She’s already doing the work, even while balancing senior year exams. That challenges my own idea of what I’m capable of — and what issues deserve more of my attention.
I’m walking away with a better understanding of what sustainability can look like — and a reminder to listen more closely to stories that don’t always get told.
“Some people knit sweaters — others stitch revolutions.”
Laura’s story reminded me that change isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s looped gently, in yarn, through purpose. I don’t see textile waste as just discarded clothes; I see it as unseen opportunity. And I believe real innovation isn’t just profit-driven — it’s people-driven.
Like Laura, I believe our generation isn’t here to admire the past — we’re here to rebuild the present. With ethics, with inclusion, and with quiet power.
We’re not the future of business. We’re already the business of the future.