- HOMEGROWN WORLD
- #HGCREATORS
- #HGEXPLORE
- #HGVOICES
- #HGSHOP
- CAREERS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
It all starts with a sari. Not the ones walking down catwalks or tenderly folded into bridal trousseaus—but the ones discarded. A little worn, no longer in your closet, or simply forgotten. These saris, originally bound for landfill, are now the unsuspecting canvas of a small fashion revolution.
Raised in the crowded streets of Mumbai, I Was A Sari works on the ideology of forcing you to think, it defies the norm of fashion with the ability to convert India's most symbolic dress into living, colourful clothing. Imagine bomber jackets with surprise interiors, relaxed resort tops, spacious bags, and carefree pants that could be worn just as easily to the corner shop as to a cocktail party. The items are colourful, surprising, and always rich in narrative.
But it's not all about looks. Fundamentally, the brand is based on two principles: sustainability and the empowerment of women. Instead of trying to tap into fast fashion trends, the label gravitates towards the eternal and the artisanal. By transforming pre-owned saris—in areas as far-flung as Chor Bazaar to home cupboards—I Was A Sari has created a language of design that centers on memory, heritage, and rebirth. No garment is ever the same, nor is any tale that surrounds it.
What is so significant about this label is its focus on people. In the past decade, the company has given jobs to hundreds of women—who, in many cases, had never worked in their lives. Almost 60% of them earned their very first job through I Was A Sari. They are mostly mothers, first-time migrants, or school dropouts who've now gained not only income but also community and meaning. They are not merely workers; they are the artisans, the faces, and the hearts of the company. Indeed, in one of their most touching campaigns, even these artisans posed in the clothing they created—paired with pieces from their own closets—for Fashion Revolution Week, giving names and smiles to the hands behind the thread.
Their commitment to sustainability isn’t performative. It’s deep-rooted. Every product showcases zero-waste design principles. Whether it’s scarves or sandals, bags or bomber jackets, each piece features repurposed sari elements. Their partnership with Milan’s Politecnico and their inclusion in Gucci’s Equilibrium program have helped elevate their designs to global standards, while remaining embedded in Indian realities. It’s where luxury meets local.
And though the style itself is sophisticated—with clean cutting, asymmetrical lines, and whimsical shapes—there is something familiar there as well. A certain Indianness that glows through the colours, fabrics, and even the seams. The garments feel like home but also feel like movement ahead.
Sustainability has come to sound like more of a buzzword than an actual commitment, and empowerment is nothing more than a tagline, I Was A Sari is the exception that proves the rule. It doesn't simply recycle material; it rewrites destiny.
The next time you slip on a patchwork kimono or wrap a beaded choker from I Was A Sari, remember you're not simply wearing a style — you're wearing heritage.
