From Chile to the world: Agustina Mir champions textile innovation and sustainability

As co-founder of Sortile, Agustina Mir, together with Constanza Gómez, is driving an innovative technology that identifies and sorts textile fibers to facilitate textile recycling. Operating between Chile and the United States, the two entrepreneurs are showcasing the vital role of women in innovation and sustainability, demonstrating that Chilean talent can deliver solutions with global impact.

Date: Friday, 31 July 2026

^{Agustina Mir leads the development of technological solutions that help transform textile waste into new opportunities for sustainability. Photo: Courtesy of Marca Chile.}

As part of the collaboration between UN Women and Marca Chile through the Chile, Country of Women initiative, this interview is featured in the #WomenLeadersForDevelopment series, an initiative that highlights women’s leadership, talent and contributions to the country’s sustainable development. Through their stories, the women featured demonstrate how Chilean women are driving innovative solutions, transforming industries and opening new pathways for future generations.

What began as an academic conversation evolved into a technology venture with global ambitions. Agustina Mir and Constanza Gómez met in 2021 while pursuing a master’s degree in the United States, where they began exploring solutions to the growing environmental impact of textile waste, an issue that is particularly visible in northern Chile.

That conversation led to the creation of Sortile, a company developing technology that identifies and classifies textile compositions, making it easier to sort materials, improve quality control and enable textile recycling. Five years later, the company operates across Chile and the United States, supported by a Chilean technical team and driven by the belief that national talent can help build a more circular and sustainable industry.

Innovating to turn waste into opportunity

Agustina explains that Sortile was born from the realization that textile recycling remains an emerging industry worldwide. Far from being a challenge unique to Chile, the lack of well-established systems for recovering textile materials represents a global challenge and, at the same time, a significant opportunity for innovation.

“We started researching and incorporated the company in the United States to develop a technology capable of identifying textile materials and facilitating their separation. We then built a technical team with whom we developed our machine, our algorithms and our software. What motivated us was seeing the potential to create meaningful impact,” she says.

For the Sortile co-founder, helping build an entirely new industry is both demanding and exciting.

“There is still no active, well-established global industry for textile recycling and recovery. We are working in a sector that is being built right now. It’s challenging, but it’s also incredibly exciting because there is so much room for innovation.”

Along this journey, Agustina has come to recognize the significant role women are playing in advancing sustainability and the circular economy.

“This industry is being built with tremendous female leadership. Sustainability and circularity have been driven by many women. Women are a powerful force behind this emerging industry.”

Chilean talent with global reach

Although Sortile operates between Chile and the United States, its Chilean roots remain central to its identity. For Agustina, innovating around textile waste is closely connected to the country’s reality, particularly the scale of the second-hand clothing industry and the accumulation of textile waste in the Atacama Desert.

“I am Chilean, and I am proud to be. My desire to innovate is connected to that determination to solve problems, take risks and create positive impact. Being a Chilean woman is deeply connected to the industry I work in, and developing technology to address this challenge makes me happy.”

Today, Sortile competes alongside companies from countries renowned for technological innovation, including Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden. For its co-founder, this demonstrates that Chile has the talent and capabilities needed to develop competitive solutions to global challenges.

Opening doors for others to dream bigger

Beyond Sortile’s environmental impact, Agustina hopes her journey will help expand the range of role models available to girls and women interested in science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“We are two women who decided to build this company. Perhaps tomorrow a girl or another woman will hear our story and think, ‘It’s possible. I can dream big and use my abilities to solve enormous challenges.’”

The opportunity to address a global problem while inspiring others is what gives meaning to her work.

“I am passionate about finding solutions to the challenge of textile waste and knowing that our work can create positive impact for society. It also excites me to think that our experience might encourage others to take on the major challenges of our time.”