Sari Not Sorry: Unapologetically Recycling Sari Textiles.

The textile industry has changed a lot over the past few decades. There used to be four fashion seasons a year; now there can be as many as 15 to keep up with, depending on what store you’re shopping in. In the past, apparel was made to last. Pieces were lovingly mended and repaired instead of thrown away. Clothes are now often priced so low that it is almost too easy to accumulate more than we could ever wear, and send trash bags full of unwanted items to thrift stores or the landfill.

In fact, according to the EPA, the amount of clothes sent to landfills by Americans has doubled in the last twenty years. 15.1 million tons of textile waste was generated in 2013 alone. That’s about 80 pounds of clothes per person.

The fashion industry is complex and so are its problems. However, while fast fashion has inspired many to fill their closets with clothes they will likely only wear a few times, it has also moved many to think beyond the trends to find solutions to the rapidly growing problem of waste.

There are many innovative ways to keep clothing out of landfills. Services like ThredUp and Poshmark are online shopping destinations for quality second-hand clothes. Clothing swap parties are becoming a trend. Environmentally conscious brands like Patagonia offer guides and DIYs to mending your own clothes, and even repair and resell items their customers no longer want. And of course, simply buying clothes meant to last and wearing them longer helps too.

Our partners in Bangladesh and India are no strangers to sustainability and innovation. They have been using their sewing and weaving skills to repurpose traditional sari fabric for years. Their creative designs allow worn and discarded saris to have a second life. They are carefully washed and used to create functional bags, baskets, and even cards and furniture.

A tisket a tasket…

… A gorgeous sari basket. A longtime favorite, these baskets are hand woven with strips of the repurposed sari and a local and fast-growing natural resource, kaisa grass. Because saris vary so widely in color and design, each basket is completely unique.

Sweet Sari Dreams

Dream in full color with a bright patterned patchwork quilt. Skillfully quilted by women working with Prokritee in Bangladesh, this fair trade blanket comes in a variety of colors and patterns, each one as unique as you! Perfect for a twin bed or for draping over your favorite couch and snuggly up with a good book.

Wisdom in Every Stitch

Our partners in India are pros when it comes giving textile waste a beautiful new purpose. Women traditionally reuse old saris by stacking and piecing them together with their signature Kantha stitch. Although this centuries old technique is most often used for blankets and cushions, the craftswomen of CRC in Kolkata, decided to showcase their skills with a few innovative designs. The Patchwork Sari Topper was lovingly stitched together by women who are able to provide for their families with their fair and steady income.

Sleep like a baby

With their cheerful colors, playful patterns, and sustainably style, what’s not to love about the Upcycled Sari Baby Blanket? Old saris are lovingly laundered, then hand-stitched by the women makers of Prokritee, creating bright futures for moms and babies in villages across Bangladesh. Each blanket is delightfully different and makes a precious addition to any nursery.

Take note

May your adventures be as colorful as the book where you record them. Containing 50 pages of handmade paper, with a cover woven from recycled sari cloth, this journal was handcrafted by the women of Biborton Handmade Paper, a workshop of our artisan partner Prokritee in Bangladesh. As with all of our repurposed sari items, each journal is as unique as the thoughts you write inside.