Berlin-based reverse.fashion, a startup developing
AI-powered textile sorting technology, has secured a seven-figure extension to
its pre-seed funding round from High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).
Founded in 2024 as a spin-off from the Technical University
of Berlin by Dr Karsten Pufahl, Paul Doertenbach and Mario Osterwalder,
reverse.fashion develops AI systems that automate the sorting and digitisation
of used textiles. Combining computer vision, machine learning, Digital
Product Passport (DPP) integration, and advanced sensing technologies, the
company enables textile sorters, recyclers, and circular fashion businesses to
accurately identify, classify, and route used garments to the most suitable
reuse, repair, resale, upcycling, or recycling pathway.
Its AI platform digitises and classifies garments based on
characteristics such as condition, brand, style, size, and material
composition, replacing labour-intensive, subjective sorting processes with
intelligent, data-driven technology. The company says its solutions improve
operational efficiency, increase the value recovered from used textiles, reduce
waste, and help the fashion industry meet growing sustainability and regulatory
requirements.
Built on years of research and development in
collaboration with industry and academic partners, reverse.fashion aims to make
textile circularity scalable by creating the next generation of textile sorting
infrastructure. According to the company, its technology increases sorting
quality and throughput, allowing customers to boost productivity by 40 per cent while
increasing revenue by around 20 per cent.
The funding will support the company’s commercial
expansion, including the continued deployment of its co.sort software and the
rollout of its line.sort automated sorting system, with the aim of scaling
automated textile sorting across the industry.