Thu Oct 02 15:13:19 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article based on it:

**Summary:**

Mithrakulam Charitable Trust in Ernakulam, India, is launching a program to train individuals and groups in upcycling old clothes. The program will teach basic stitching and design, enabling participants to create new items or sell pre-loved clothes. The trust will also assist in marketing the upcycled products. Clothes unsuitable for upcycling will be repurposed into utilitarian items. The trust has partnered with Sacred Heart College, Thevara, to collect old clothes through a drop box and offer upcycling classes to students.

**News Article:**

**Ernakulam Trust Launches Program to Breathe New Life into Old Clothes**

**KOCHI, INDIA – October 2, 2025** – In a bid to promote sustainability and entrepreneurship, Mithrakulam Charitable Trust in Ernakulam has announced a new training program focused on upcycling old clothing. The initiative aims to equip individuals and groups with the skills to transform discarded garments into new, marketable products.

The program will provide instruction in basic stitching and design, allowing participants to either create entirely new clothing items from pre-loved materials or to prepare those clothes for resale. The trust will also support participants in marketing their upcycled creations.

“We need groups of at least 10 people for the program. We will train them at their place on designing and creating unique products out of old clothes,” said Anil Jose, managing trustee of the trust. A fee will be levied for the program.

For clothing unsuitable for upcycling, the trust will repurpose the materials into utilitarian items such as bags, pouches, mats, aprons, bed covers, sofa covers, mobile holders, and even clothing for animals.

Mithrakulam Charitable Trust has formalized a partnership with the Department of Social Work at Sacred Heart College, Thevara. The collaboration will establish a drop box on the college campus where students can donate their unwanted clothing. In a subsequent phase, upcycling classes will be offered to interested students.

This initiative from Mithrakulam Charitable Trust provides a sustainable solution to textile waste while empowering individuals with valuable skills and entrepreneurial opportunities.

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