The Fabric Futurist: Sarika Bajaj on Fashion's Circular Economy, AI and EPR Policy

In this episode, we sit down with Sarika Bajaj, Co-Founder and CEO of Refiberd, whose groundbreaking technology combines AI and hyperspectral imaging to identify the material composition in textiles for recycling and resale. As the winner of eBay’s 2025 global Circular Fashion Fund, Sarika and her Co-Founder Tushita Gupta are pioneering a new frontier —offering crucial solutions as fashion brands navigate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.Refiberd is tackling one of the fashion industry's greatest sustainability challenges. Industry reports show a staggering 92 million tons of textile waste generated annually, with most ending up in landfills or incinerators. Now, with their recent investment from eBay Ventures, Sarika and Tushita are expanding their technology to new partners and markets in recycling, resale and manufacturing.Our conversation explores their remarkable journey of launching in 2020 during the pandemic, raising capital in a difficult market, and moving forward as government policies continue to change — from unpredictable tariffs to EPR laws in jurisdictions around the world. We also discuss how Refiberd's AI and imaging technology has powerful applications for counterfeit detection.Sarika shares invaluable insights for fashion tech entrepreneurs. How do you know when to pivot your business model or if you should just stay the course and continue building on your original vision? Listen to the end for Sarika’s startup tips.Connect with Sarika BajajFollow Refiberd: LinkedIn and SiteConnect with Kenya: LinkedIn and InstagramFollow Suited with Kenya WileySubscribe to the Suited newsletter