A Rebirth Of Textiles
Each yardage of fabric that we create holds the story of many hands that have worked as its makers. We appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into the spinning, weaving and block printing of our textiles and it would make our heart ache at the sight of any of that going to waste. We took it upon ourselves to question our garment production, looking for ways to maximize the usage from each yardage of fabric that has been created with the utmost love and care. Over the last few years, this has taken the shape of several upcycled garments and the delicate details of many of our dresses such as their buttons, tassels and drawstrings.
Every time a garment is constructed, we are left behind with a pile of scraps that need some love and attention. We have been working closely with the textile studio, Paiwand, who have helped turn our woven dreams to reality. Once they receive our small scraps, they give it some much-needed care by assorting, washing, ironing and then cutting the scraps into strips, ready to be woven into a completely new textile. Once the design is conceptualized, the pools and bobbins are prepared for weaving. On the loom, the weavers insert the strips of repurposed Buna fabric bobbin as the weft to create a fabric that has a unique textured surface with raw edges making it perfectly imperfect. As no two scraps of fabric look identical, each yardage of the fabric is unique. From dresses to jackets to skirts, hit ‘upcycled’ in our search bar on the website to open the doors to this magical land of reborn textiles.
As we work on the fit and construction of each style, we are also left behind with a pile of muslin fabric waste. These are turned into fabric envelopes in which the dresses are packed and can later be stored. We have also repurposed some of our fabric waste into crochet rugs. You can find a tutorial for this rug under our Instagram highlight, ‘Slow Living’.
Most recently, we converted our waste fabrics into patchwork bags that have become our companions to grocery stores.
Each day for us is a learning opportunity to not just make beautiful garments but also question the footprints we leave behind while doing so. Sustainability lies at the very heart of Buna. We believe that sustainability is no more a choice in a rapidly changing world. It is rather a necessity. At Buna, a sustainable choice is one that considers the consequences involved after it. Whatever we purchase leaves a trail behind, maybe of plastic, carbon, chemicals, water wastage, exploitation and so on. Minimizing this trail is our brand's endeavor.
Sustainable or slow living to us means not only taking good care of our body but also of our extended body - the environment. At Buna, production involves using materials, which are natural and leave the least possible carbon footprint. We also recycle, up-cycle and minimize wastage. We use local crafts and support artisan communities in our small way. And try to top it with making clothes that can be cherished for a long time.