I Was a Sari

About I Was a Sari

I Was a Sari is a Mumbai-based circular fashion label and certified B Corp that transforms preloved saris and deadstock fabric into contemporary ready-to-wear clothing, bags, jewellery, accessories, and home goods. Operating as a social enterprise under 2nd Innings Handicrafts Pvt Ltd, the brand is built on a zero-waste philosophy and a deep commitment to the economic empowerment of women artisans.

The Circular Model

The founding premise is elegantly simple: millions of saris are discarded each year across India while fast fashion simultaneously creates enormous textile waste. I Was a Sari closes this loop by giving both categories of fabric a productive second life. Every inch of material sourced is repurposed — nothing goes to landfill. To date, the brand has given over 2.2 million square metres of fabric and 900 artisans a second chance.

Artisan Employment and Social Impact

All products are handcrafted by female artisans in Mumbai, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds. The brand provides dignified work, fair wages, and flexible working environments, supporting the artisans financial independence and skill development. This combination of environmental circularity and social impact has earned I Was a Sari recognition from the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and B Corp certification — two of the most rigorous independent standards for social and environmental business performance.

Products and Collections

The product range is broad. Clothing includes dresses, tops, jackets, kimonos, and loungewear. Bags span shopping totes, everyday bags, and small pouches. The jewellery line covers earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Accessories include wraps, scarves, and headpieces. A growing home range covers ornaments, decor items, and stationery. All collections are produced in limited editions, which reinforces the brand anti-overproduction values and makes each piece genuinely unique.

Why the Materials Matter

The materials — sari silk, cotton weaves, block-printed fabrics, and vintage textiles — carry history and craft that no newly produced fabric can replicate. A sari sourced from a family in Kolkata or Chennai arrives with decades of wear embedded in its weave. When transformed into a new garment, that history becomes part of the product story. This is slow fashion at its most literal: garments that have already lived one life being given a second.

Availability

I Was a Sari ships across India and internationally. The brand regularly collaborates with other social enterprises and creative studios on limited collections. For shoppers in Maharashtra seeking sustainable fashion that is both beautiful and socially impactful, this brand represents the best of what circular economy principles can produce. Listed on the Prakati Green Directory as a verified sustainable business.

I Was a Sari accepts custom orders and bulk commissions for corporate gifting, events, and NGO partnerships. The brand is also active in designing collaborative collections with other social enterprises, amplifying both parties reach and impact. Gift sets combining clothing, accessories, and home goods are available and come with the full provenance story of the sari fabric used — a meaningful addition for buyers who want their gift to carry a genuine narrative. The brand’s online store ships internationally, bringing Indian craft and circular design to a global audience.