Organizations that do amazing things with old saris
The 6-yard wonder. The keeper of mom smells in its folds. The in-a-pinch dishcloth. The ultimate marker of adulting.
The sari.
Even after their tenure as saris, they do not leave our homes. They reincarnate as salwar kameezes, kitchen towels, quilts, pillow covers, and even curtains! In a world where of sari use is shrinking (no pun intended), here are a few organizations that are doing amazing things with old saris, giving them a completely new life!
I Was a Sari (link to https://iwasasari.com/)
I was a Sari, conceptualized by Stefano Funari, aims to give saris a second chance by upcycling saris into contemporary accessories and clothing. In the process, saris get a second chance while promoting sustainable fashion, and women in Mumbai receive a sustainable livelihood. This global brand has taken the sari global, and as Funari says, “men and women across the world are now dressed in saris–saris reimagined as loungewear, shoes, bags.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfsveDROgbb/
We love: their pleated earrings and waistcoats
Tejal Keyur Textiles (https://www.instagram.com/tejalkeyur.textiles/)
Textile designer Tejal Keyur creates one-of-a-kind products using hand-braided discarded saris. Sourcing old saris from the local Sunday Bazaar near her hometown Kohlapur, she designs the products and sends over the designs to her small team of artisans working in their homes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ3mek8vIBF/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzVzOaIxXm/
Because of the unpredictability of the saris that are sourced, the design process is very dynamic! Tejal likes to use nature-inspired themes for her creations. Their “Metamorphosis” collection is inspired by the butterfly, for instance.
We love: the Tahr motif in general and their semi-circular clutches
Mishcat Co (https://mishcatco.com)
Mishcat Co, founded by Ishrat Sahgal in 2013, uses leftover sari silk yarn to create one-of-a-kind carpets. The yarn scraps are spun into threads and sent to weavers along with a blueprint, based on the available colours. They also work with wool to create the carpets. It’s not strictly made from discarded saris, but helps give a new lease of life to the yarn scraps that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYgaqdRoyg3/
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We love: Exuberance (from silk yarn) and Serenity (from wool yarn)Â
Quilt Collective (www.quiltcollective.in)
Pune-based Quilt Collective is a social enterprise primarily formed to help women with a means of livelihood. It branched out of an earlier avatar, Quilt Culture, and creates quilted products, mostly godhadi, a hand-stitched blanket native to Maharashtra. The founder Archana Jagtap and her team of 30 women make customized quilts from your old saris. While the quilts they sell are mostly made from new saris, old and discarded “tailor scraps” are used to make smaller products.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK6JcMkL6_-
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We love: their table mats and coasters, and customized quilt service