Can Your Grandmother’s Saree Be the Next Big Trend?
Have a wedding to attend but no clothes? Fret not! You should be recycling and upcycling. For special occasions, we all want to wear something new and preferably designer wear. However, it comes at a huge cost after which it simply stays in the loft for the rest of the year till another occasion crops up. Instead of crying about “what to wear” every single time, maybe there’s a treasure lying in your mother or grandmother’s closet!
Sarees are precious heirlooms that don’t deserve to be thrown away. In fact, they are timeless. Reviving old sarees and giving them a new lease of life is not just an exciting process but also gives you a chance to unlock your creativity.
Are you ready to repurpose your mom’s saree into something fabulous? Check out the cool hacks we’ve mentioned in this blog.
How to Upcycle an Old Saree?
A Luxury Wedding Gown
These days, a lot of people are having elaborate wedding themes. For instance, black-tie, Indo-western, etc. are the popular ones. Instead of going and splurging on a new outfit, you can make one yourself. Look for a gold and black saree and transform it into a wedding gown. If the saree has borders, use it on the sides. You can even turn it into a flowing skirt and cropped top set. While the saree-turned outfit is great as it is. You can even get some zari work done on it if you like. Your outfit is sure to become a conversation starter at any party.
A Pant Suit
Sarees don’t always have to be converted into something ethnic. Repurposing sarees to make a pant-suit is one of the coolest things. It’s ideal for a working woman who loves her job and a touch of Indian wear at the same time. Don’t go in for any boring shade. If your mom or grandma have a bright raw silk saree, it would be ideal. Get your tailor to stitch an uber-cool pant and coat set. If you’re not into coats, even a shirt would look great. You’ve not just made yourself a cool outfit but even a coordinated set of separates at the same time.
A Draped Maxi Dress
If you have a tissue silk saree at hand, why not convert it into a flowy maxi dress? Since the fabric is delicate, it drapes beautifully. You can even go on Pinterest to get some style inspiration. Make a side twist-knot detail to make the dress truly luxurious. You can create an effortless yet elegant silhouette. Different draped styles can add drama to an outfit.
A Cape
If your grandmother has cotton sarees, they make wonderful capes and shrugs. It’s perfect work wear too. It can be styled and layered in so many different ways. Since they’re easy cover-ups, they look super chic. You can make a long coat, a balloon cape or even a short shrug. Wear them over kurtas, dresses or even with denim shorts on a beach holiday. Capes are so versatile that you can wear them with anything.
Home Décor
Besides outfits and dresses, sarees can also be upcycled to make some designer cushions. Look for sarees that match the colour scheme of your room. It’s ideal to create cushions and bed covers. If the saree pallu has geometric patterns, even better. There are a lot of brands who are repurposing cotton sarees into bed linen. They not just look great but also minimise waste generation.
Benefits of Repurposing Old Sarees
Recycling an old saree is beyond just a trend. It has a lot of benefits which are as follows:
- Sustainable Clothing: The fashion industry has changed significantly. By reusing old sarees, we not just reduce textile waste but also move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
- Cultural Connection: Vintage sarees are considered heirlooms that are wrapped in tradition. By repurposing your grandmother’s saree, you don’t just get an outfit seeped in cultural heritage but also has an emotional connection. It gives you a chance to keep tradition alive but in a modern way.
- Individuality: When you repurpose an old saree, you can make a one-of-a-kind dress because no two pieces will be alike. The way you transform it depends on your personal style. It’s much better than indulging in fast fashion or purchasing dresses from expensive designer stores.
Conclusion
Who knew old sarees could be put to such wonderful use? The next time you plan to give away a saree, you know exactly what to do. Turning it into a new outfit also gives you a chance to express your creativity and personal style. We at Vogue not just emphasize on design education as part of our fashion and apparel design course curriculum but we also focus on teaching our students how they can reuse, recycle and upcycle clothes to create something new. Turn your passion into a profession by pursuing our diploma in fashion design course.
