2ND INNINGS HANDICRAFTS PRIVATE LIMITED

In their own words

I was a Sari is a circular fashion brand redefining the value of waste and reshaping the narrative of empowerment through design. By upcycling pre-loved saris and textile deadstock into contemporary fashion and lifestyle products, the brand transforms discarded materials into one-of-a-kind, globally relevant products, while building livelihoods for women from under-resourced communities in India. At its core, I was a Sari is an innovation-led enterprise: • It has developed a zero-waste design system that works with non-standardised materials and converts them into scalable, export-quality collections. • It has pioneered a Made-to-order platform for upcycled garments, enabling personalised, low-waste fashion production. • Its unique artisan training model, developed in collaboration with luxury brand Gucci, has enabled over 650 women to learn embroidery techniques traditionally dominated by men, creating skilled, employable artisans in a high-value, global niche. In doing the above, it is solving two major challenges – 1. The problem of textile waste: currently estimated at ~8 million tonnes (approximately 9% of global textile waste). While most sustainable fashion brands focus on new, virgin eco-friendly materials, I was a Sari uniquely works with post-consumer fabric waste, transforming discarded saris into products of purpose and value; and 2. Lack of dignified livelihood opportunities for underprivileged women in India: over the years, I was a Sari has trained and employed over 800 artisans from marginalized communities, most of whom have never worked before. Wholly owned by 2nd Innings Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd, a zero-dividend private company, I was a Sari is built on a scalable, high-impact model. It has already diverted over 2 million square meters of textile waste from landfills and paid over 1.6 million hours of fair wages.

Written by the company on its public Startup India profile. Not verified by us.