A civic worker sweeps the road as migrant workers look for transport to return to their home states, in Hyderabad.
PTIThe concept of reusing sarees isn’t new. Our grandmums have been turning them into kanthas and kurtas, but design-wise it’s usually the same couple of things. It’s not considered stylish or high design or seen as “occasion wear”. I wanted to change this and get people to see upcycling as a serious option, uplifting that unused piece of cloth to a gorgeous piece of bespoke fashion. LataSita is the product of this train of thought.
I considered various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
PTII’ve always loved textile and have been customising my clothes since I was a teenager – adding pockets, changing shapes, hand-altering pieces, all of which gave me great pleasure. However, I thought of the fashion industry as being frivolous and wasteful, and wished no part in it. I had become uncomfortably aware of the cruel practices the sweatshops supplying so many of my (former) favourite brands were guilty of. In 2010, I was horrified to learn that fashion was one of the largest polluters on Earth, second only to Big Oil, and this really got to me. I came back to Calcutta after almost seven years in England, and realised that I could enter the fashion supply chain and try, firsthand, to do things differently and experience the challenges of running an ethical business.
TTI considered various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
PE5 I considered various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
TTS6 I considered various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
ABP7 : I considered various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
Ed8 : I considered various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
IIG9 : various sustainable textiles as I wanted an option that created the least impact and waste. Then, my mum opened up her wardrobe.
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