As Ramazan begins and millions of Muslims around the world embark on their Umrah pilgrimage, the ihram, a key garment for male worshippers, remains a powerful symbol of purity, unity, and devotion. The simple white attire, made of two pieces of unstitched cloth, is an essential part of both the Umrah and Hajj experiences.
In an effort to promote sustainability, the Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission has launched its Sustainable Ihram initiative. This project aims to recycle and repurpose used ihrams, merging sacred Islamic traditions with eco-friendly practices that protect the environment.
Through this initiative, used ihrams are collected and transformed into new, sustainable garments through a circular textile recycling process. The effort is a collaboration between Saudi Investment Recycling Co. and the eco-fashion company Tadweem.
The program's goal is to raise awareness about fashion recycling while fostering the growth of a circular textile economy in Saudi Arabia.
Recognizing the environmental impact of discarded ihrams, which are produced in large quantities for the annual pilgrimage, the Fashion Commission saw an opportunity to reduce textile waste.
Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, remarked, “Ihram is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fashion, but at the same time, it’s a product that is sold and used in large volumes, especially during Hajj.”
To make this initiative a reality, 336 collection bins were installed in Mina, where several tonnes of used ihrams were gathered. These garments then underwent a careful recycling process that included sorting, cleaning, shredding, and reweaving to create new ihrams for pilgrims to wear with a renewed sense of purpose.
“There’s no better way to do this than during your religious pilgrimage, where you want to focus on spirituality and ensure the product you wear represents purity, both in body and mind,” Cakmak added.
Mustafa Bukhari, CEO of Tadweem, explained that while manufacturing currently takes place outside Saudi Arabia, the long-term goal is to bring production to the Kingdom. Tadweem, a Saudi eco-friendly company, is focused on sustainability in fashion through projects like textile recycling.
For this project, the collected ihrams were transformed into raw materials in Dubai, then sent to Turkey for manufacturing, and finally returned to Saudi Arabia.
“The entire product is made from recycled materials, including the packaging and bags, with no harmful substances,” Bukhari said. “We used recycled cotton for both the ihrams and the packaging bags, ensuring the environmental sustainability of the entire product.”
At the Jeddah Hajj and Umrah conference in January, Tadweem showcased how fabric from recycled ihrams was incorporated into high-quality leather bags.
Priced at SR98 ($25.98), the sustainable ihrams are now available in Madinah, with plans to expand distribution to Makkah, major airports, and other regions. They will also be sold in a dedicated store for sustainable ihrams and at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, which runs until May 25.
Cakmak emphasized, “The hope is that we are highlighting the importance of sustainability not just through art and creativity, but through everyday products that people can adopt. This is about offering a conscious choice that aligns the spiritual journey with sustainability.”