DUJA Returns With 'ROUND 2', Reworking Export Surplus Into Upcycled Artwear

New Delhi–based fashion label DUJA, known for reworking export rejects and surplus textiles into limited-run artwear, has released its second collection, ROUND 2, continuing its focus on upcycling and reconstruction. Founded by creative director Ustat Kharbanda, DUJA operates from a core idea captured in its name — 'duja' means 'second' in Punjabi, a reference to giving garments a second life. The brand partners with export houses and textile sources to rescue post-consumer garments, fabric excess and unfinished stock, transforming them into limited-run pieces that foreground reuse over new production.

Ustat began DUJA by repurposing found textiles and clothing from personal sources; that practice has since scaled into a structured process of reclamation and design. Working with craftspeople across India, the label combines reworked fabrics with techniques ranging from embroidery to appliqué, retaining the original markings and textures of reclaimed textiles. Their pieces are made in small batches or as one-offs, reflecting the finite nature of their raw materials.

With ROUND 2, the brand extends this ethos with a collection framed around contrast — both material and visual. Shot inside a vintage boxing ring, the campaign sets the tone for work that is as much about contest and renewal as it is about apparel. The ring imagery anchors the idea of garments stepping back into an arena with fresh identity, in line with DUJA’s belief that transformation should remain visible. Each piece carries the imprint of its previous life even as it is reconfigured for contemporary wear.

The collection’s construction highlights that approach. Post-consumer garments and scrap textiles figure throughout ROUND 2 as raw elements in new silhouettes. Standouts include puffers built from layered shirts, a long trench cut and reshaped from denim, and outerwear compiled from military-printed fabrics and salvaged leather. Digital screen prints are paired with hand-applied lace and layered metal detailing for visual tension. Vibrant colours coexist with distressed surfaces, creating a layered look that is tactile and dynamic.

Ustat describes the collection as less a departure than a progression of DUJA’s material language. The boxing ring concept was chosen to echo the energy of renewal — an arena where each garment is 'sparring' with its past and present. For the label, sustainability is intrinsic to design: the choice to preserve markings, seams and wear underscores that reuse and creative expression are inseparable in DUJA’s process. With ROUND 2, the brand aims to broaden the conversation around what sustainable fashion looks like in India, proving that upcycled clothing can be stylish, conceptually driven and forward looking without shedding the history embedded in its materials.

Follow DUJA here and browse the new collection here.

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