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Discover fashion with purpose with our guide to upcycled brands from India. Find stylish choices that make a positive impact.

8 India's Upcycled Fashion Brands For Your Next Buy

Make stylish choices that make a positive impact

Cultivating a sense of mindfulness in our lifestyle choices is gradually extending from what we eat to what we wear. The rise of upcycled clothing brands epitomises this shift towards recycled sustainable fashion. Upcycling, meanwhile,  reimagines pre-loved garments into fresh, new pieces.

Upcycling is a creative response to the environmental toll that fast fashion has on the planet. By choosing upcycled clothes, individuals contribute to a more sustainable future without compromising on style. Here, we look at what homegrown upcycled brands have to offer.

11:11Rooted in traditional craftsmanship, 11.11 embraces a minimalist design philosophy. They incorporate hand-spun yarns, handloom weaving, and hand-painting techniques. They use indigenous cotton and 100 per cent natural dyes, that are environment-friendly. Yarn-dyed fibres, bandhani, patchwork, ikat, handblock printing, and kantha are some of the details that feature in their clothes. You will find a whiskey-gold printed shirt with hand-embroidered designs alongside summery dresses inspired by Ajrakh block-printing. Image: Instagram.com/1111clothing

11:11

Rooted in traditional craftsmanship, 11.11 embraces a minimalist design philosophy. They incorporate hand-spun yarns, handloom weaving, and hand-painting techniques. They use indigenous cotton and 100 per cent natural dyes, that are environment-friendly. 

Yarn-dyed fibres, bandhani, patchwork, ikat, handblock printing, and kantha are some of the details that feature in their clothes. You will find a whiskey-gold printed shirt with hand-embroidered designs alongside summery dresses inspired by Ajrakh block-printing. 

Image: Instagram.com/1111clothing

DoodlageDoodlage embraces upcycling and recycling to create unique and eco-conscious clothing. They source waste from factory discards, giving new life to leftover fabrics. Post-consumer waste and cutting scraps get a second chance as new, seasonless garments are built to last. Doodlage's commitment to sustainability, however, goes beyond clothing. Doodlage’s zero-waste philosophy means that leftover materials are meticulously separated and transformed into a variety of products. Scraps are used to create accessories that complement the brand’s clothing lines. They even find new uses for waste in homeware, crafting soft furnishings.The brand partners with manufacturers who share their commitment to responsible sourcing and fair labour. This translates to high-quality garments you can feel good about wearing. Doodlage creates upcycled clothes using fabric scraps with unique handcrafted patchwork designs. Locally sourced recycled materials are also reimagined into garments.Image: Instagram.com/doodlageofficial

Doodlage

Doodlage embraces upcycling and recycling to create unique and eco-conscious clothing. They source waste from factory discards, giving new life to leftover fabrics. Post-consumer waste and cutting scraps get a second chance as new, seasonless garments are built to last. Doodlage's commitment to sustainability, however, goes beyond clothing. 

Doodlage’s zero-waste philosophy means that leftover materials are meticulously separated and transformed into a variety of products. Scraps are used to create accessories that complement the brand’s clothing lines. They even find new uses for waste in homeware, crafting soft furnishings.

The brand partners with manufacturers who share their commitment to responsible sourcing and fair labour. This translates to high-quality garments you can feel good about wearing. Doodlage creates upcycled clothes using fabric scraps with unique handcrafted patchwork designs. Locally sourced recycled materials are also reimagined into garments.

Image: Instagram.com/doodlageofficial

Péro Pero’s designs are characterised by a bohemian and eclectic aesthetic. Their clothing features relaxed silhouettes, flowing fabrics, and floral prints and embellishments. Think of contemporary jackets crafted from handwoven cloth, lots of ruffles, hand-crocheted co-ord sets, and cross-stitched knits that are a reminder of the trending “cottage-core” aesthetic.Image: Instagram.com/ilovepero

Péro 

Pero’s designs are characterised by a bohemian and eclectic aesthetic. Their clothing features relaxed silhouettes, flowing fabrics, and floral prints and embellishments. Think of contemporary jackets crafted from handwoven cloth, lots of ruffles, hand-crocheted co-ord sets, and cross-stitched knits that are a reminder of the trending “cottage-core” aesthetic.

Image: Instagram.com/ilovepero

Ka-ShaWith each garment as an ode to people, journeys, and perspectives imbued with the rich heritage of India, Ka-Sha is committed to conscious creation. Through their subsidiary brand Heart to Haat, they upcycle, recycle, and meticulously restore each piece as a dedication to sustainable fashion.Each piece of their clothing is hand-dyed, handwoven, and stitched, featuring bright colours and bold patterns. While their designs are visually striking, they also prioritise comfort and ease. The silhouettes are often relaxed and flowy, allowing for movement and comfort, making them suitable for everyday wear.Image: Instagram.com/ka_sha_india

Ka-Sha

With each garment as an ode to people, journeys, and perspectives imbued with the rich heritage of India, Ka-Sha is committed to conscious creation. Through their subsidiary brand Heart to Haat, they upcycle, recycle, and meticulously restore each piece as a dedication to sustainable fashion.

Each piece of their clothing is hand-dyed, handwoven, and stitched, featuring bright colours and bold patterns. While their designs are visually striking, they also prioritise comfort and ease. The silhouettes are often relaxed and flowy, allowing for movement and comfort, making them suitable for everyday wear.

Image: Instagram.com/ka_sha_india

No NastiesSince 2011, No Nasties has been weaving a story of upcycled clothes fashion. They craft everyday essentials such as t-shirts, shirts, and dresses from 100 per cent organic cotton that is kind to your skin and the planet.  Their Indian supply chain minimises transportation emissions, supporting local communities while reducing carbon footprint.Their designs often feature clean lines and simple silhouettes. Their use of organic cotton minimises the amount of water and energy that goes into the production process, making it a sustainable choice. The garments feel incredibly soft and breathable, perfect for everyday wear. Their Fairtrade-certified factory guarantees good working conditions and fair wages for employees. Image: Instagram.com/nonasties

No Nasties

Since 2011, No Nasties has been weaving a story of upcycled clothes fashion. They craft everyday essentials such as t-shirts, shirts, and dresses from 100 per cent organic cotton that is kind to your skin and the planet.  Their Indian supply chain minimises transportation emissions, supporting local communities while reducing carbon footprint.

Their designs often feature clean lines and simple silhouettes. Their use of organic cotton minimises the amount of water and energy that goes into the production process, making it a sustainable choice. The garments feel incredibly soft and breathable, perfect for everyday wear. Their Fairtrade-certified factory guarantees good working conditions and fair wages for employees. 

Image: Instagram.com/nonasties

RKIVE CityRkive City collaborates with The Princess Diya Kumari Foundation Society foundation dedicated to empowering women and girls in rural Rajasthan for almost a decade. The heart of their designs lies in repurposed materials such as combinations of upcycled cotton fabrics, each hand-printed using the traditional block-printing technique, quilted jackets, and sarees handcrafted by Kota Doriya fabric with surface embellishments of sequins and beads. Image: Instagram.com/rkivecity

RKIVE City

Rkive City collaborates with The Princess Diya Kumari Foundation Society foundation dedicated to empowering women and girls in rural Rajasthan for almost a decade. The heart of their designs lies in repurposed materials such as combinations of upcycled cotton fabrics, each hand-printed using the traditional block-printing technique, quilted jackets, and sarees handcrafted by Kota Doriya fabric with surface embellishments of sequins and beads. 

Image: Instagram.com/rkivecity

The Summer HouseThe Summer House’s collections feature responsible materials like organic cotton, ethical Tencel, and ECONYL regenerated nylon. They combine heritage techniques like block-printing (crafted by artisans from Karnataka and Gujarat) with modern sensibilities to create minimalist designs. Their designs for upcycled clothes often include clean lines, simple silhouettes, and a neutral color palette, and thus effortless and suitable for various occasions.Image: Instagram.com/thesummerhouse

The Summer House

The Summer House’s collections feature responsible materials like organic cotton, ethical Tencel, and ECONYL regenerated nylon. They combine heritage techniques like block-printing (crafted by artisans from Karnataka and Gujarat) with modern sensibilities to create minimalist designs. Their designs for upcycled clothes often include clean lines, simple silhouettes, and a neutral color palette, and thus effortless and suitable for various occasions.

Image: Instagram.com/thesummerhouse

OkhaiOkhai excels in Rabari embroidery, a crat form featuring intricate details like Bavariyo, running stitches, and embellished beads. Look for round- and rectangle-shaped mirrors adorning patches and kullvi handmade borders that lend vibrancy to your clothes. Okhai's upcycled clothes are designed for the modern woman who seeks both comfort and style. They use breathable cotton mul fabric, perfect for the Indian climate.From hand-crocheted lace embroidery to playful stripes, each piece reflects the craftsmanship of women in rural India.Image: Instagram.com/okhai_org

Okhai

Okhai excels in Rabari embroidery, a crat form featuring intricate details like Bavariyo, running stitches, and embellished beads. Look for round- and rectangle-shaped mirrors adorning patches and kullvi handmade borders that lend vibrancy to your clothes. Okhai's upcycled clothes are designed for the modern woman who seeks both comfort and style. They use breathable cotton mul fabric, perfect for the Indian climate.

From hand-crocheted lace embroidery to playful stripes, each piece reflects the craftsmanship of women in rural India.

Image: Instagram.com/okhai_org

Also Read: Why has thrifting not caught on despite ‘sustainable fashion’ being a buzzword?

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