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Sunday, November 10, 2024

2 Mumbai Ladies Are Turning Textile Waste Into Sustainable Stylish Style


Prakruthi Rao and Akshara Mehta, co-founders of Juhu Seashore Studio (JBS), have turned their ardour for design right into a mission to show scraps of textile waste into quirky, handcrafted merchandise. With an all-women staff and a matter-of-fact dedication to accountable manufacturing practices, they’re rewriting the connection between model and sustainability.

Each graduates of NID Ahmedabad, Prakruthi and Akshara had all the time shared a inventive bond. After commencement, they labored on various things however finally discovered themselves again in Mumbai — the nation’s second-largest textile hub.

“We all the time knew that we wished to work with waste,” Prakruthi tells The Higher India.

A dedication to sustainability

From the get-go, sustainability is woven into each side of their manufacturing course of. They solely use textile waste, each pre-consumer and post-consumer, sourcing supplies from industrial areas and manufacturing items throughout Mumbai. Additionally they accumulate discarded textiles imported from different nations, making certain their merchandise are crafted from supplies that may in any other case go to waste.

The duo employs a number of handwork strategies, together with embroidery and applique, with most objects created both by hand or with stitching machines. This give attention to handcrafting was a deliberate alternative from the start, they share.

Two founders sit on a pile of textile waste, showcasing their commitment to sustainability. They will transform these materials into handcrafted fashion pieces at Juhu Beach Studio.
Prakruthi Rao and Akshara Mehta supply unique textile waste, each pre-consumer and post-consumer, from industrial areas and manufacturing items throughout Mumbai.

Each founders have backgrounds steeped in craft practices like weaving and dyeing, enabling them to discover a variety of strategies that align with their model’s ethos. They rapidly found that this hands-on strategy not solely creates stunning merchandise but additionally fosters a deeper connection to the supplies and the tales behind them.

Constructing a supportive workspace

Making a protected and empowering atmosphere for his or her staff, together with a give attention to sustainability, was non-negotiable. At the moment, they make use of an all-female staff of round 10 ladies, all educated in handwork by the studio.

Prakruthi says, “Once we began this model we have been very eager on having an all-women staff. As a result of the standard office has not been designed to bear in mind all the opposite issues a girl is predicted to do in her dwelling. We designed this workspace to accommodate that.”

Anjali Patil, who’s been working on the studio for the previous two years shares that working on the studio is like being part of a group. “They educated us in handwork strategies. And the studio is just not like different locations. I’ve issues with my legs, so I require a number of leeway however it’s by no means a difficulty right here. All of us chuckle and joke continuously. It’s a beautiful atmosphere to work in.”

Prakruthi Rao and Akshara Mehta pose with their all-women team of workers at Juhu Beach Studio, smiling together in a supportive and creative environment.
Juhu Seashore Studio employs an all-female staff of round 10 ladies, all educated in handwork by the studio.

At Juhu Seashore Studio, the seek for textile waste is a year-round endeavour. They actively supply small scraps — typically just some inches in measurement — from manufacturing items, together with bigger items discarded as a consequence of dyeing errors or tears. This materials hunt straight influences their design course of, as every assortment is crafted across the materials they collect.

Whereas this strategy comes with sure limitations, embracing these challenges is central to their work, making the craft of upcycling a rewarding side of their mission.

From idea to collections

The concept was born in 2019, resulting in their first assortment of solely 60 hats in 2020, made solely from upholstery swatches — that offered out rapidly! The next 12 months, they launched a restricted run of 100 sling baggage.

By 2023, they put out their largest assortment but, that includes 1,500 distinctive items made solely from textile waste. “The primary two child collections have been a proof of idea for us, whether or not it’s even attainable to make these sorts of merchandise with waste, to see if individuals are , and if there’s a marketplace for it. And we obtained good indications from there. Nevertheless, the final assortment was proof of idea of whether or not this works as a enterprise,” says Prakruthi. 

A colourful display at Juhu Beach Studio showcasing a variety of unique, quirky products made from textile waste.
“We wished so as to add one particular singular factor to an in any other case regular outfit, one thing that immediately makes it extra fascinating — that’s our intention,” shares Prakruthi.

Noting that it’s a quick style market the place all the pieces has a sure life span, JBS wished to make one thing out of textile waste that not solely seems to be completely different but additionally offers items an prolonged life span.

“We wished our merchandise to be designed in such a means that somebody who cares about sustainability finds one thing that they like. However even if you happen to don’t care about that, you’d nonetheless wish to purchase the product. That means it furthers our mission no matter what somebody’s intent is,” says Prakruthi, including, “Though we’re making merchandise out of chindi (waste), we wished the stuff to look very polished.”

Nevertheless, the issue with waste is you may make merchandise from it however it’s troublesome to make a sustainable, scalable enterprise out of it. Since one can’t make a big amount of items with simply scraps, the standard means individuals do that enterprise doesn’t apply.

“The aim of this enterprise was to mainly set up textile waste as a viable uncooked materials for an enormous enterprise. We’ve got form of found out find out how to go about that. Shifting ahead, it’ll be good for lots of up-and-coming companies, as it’s going to present that it’s truly attainable to make use of simply waste to develop a enterprise,” she provides.

Talking of the long run, Prakruthi and Akshara plan on increasing into the approach to life equipment phase; all the pieces however clothes. “The garment market is sort of saturated. Persons are already shopping for a number of garments on a regular basis. However we really feel such as you don’t really need to purchase an entire bunch of garments to have a brand new look. We wished so as to add one particular singular factor to an in any other case regular outfit, one thing that immediately makes it extra fascinating — that’s our intention,” shares Prakruthi.

Cultivating a tradition of upcycling

By selecting textile waste as its medium, Juhu Seashore Studio inherently meets its private standards for sustainability and longevity in design. It envisions merchandise as timeless objects that may be cherished and used over time.

“You don’t want a number of stuff to precise your self,” says Prakruthi.

The phrase "Love You Forever"  beautifully embroidered in gold on a bright pink fabric, followed by the words "Juhu Beach Studio."
“(We wish to) present that it’s truly attainable to make use of simply waste to develop a enterprise,” says Prakruthi

By means of their interactive workshops the place they train individuals to work with their fingers, they goal to shift perceptions of upcycling and utilizing second-hand. “We wish to create a tradition the place you reuse supplies, cherish objects, and repair them time and again, as a result of there’s one thing treasured about them. Simply because one thing’s been discarded or broken, it doesn’t imply that it’s ineffective,” remarks Prakruthi. 

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photographs courtesy Juhu Seashore Studio

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