No products in the cart.
17
Nov
5 ways to up-cycle your mom’s saree into western outfits
Are you wondering what to do with those sarees unused in your mom’s wardrobe ? They could be heavy Kanjeevaram silks, floral organzas, elegant lines and cottons, stylish netted or georgette sarees or soft crepes and chiffons. Upcycling these sarees into beautiful Indian outfits whether it is an Anarkali or Kurtha-Sharara or Lehenga sets is not all that difficult given the Indian colours or the prints of the saree. But to upcycle them into western outfits demands creativity and a deep understanding of the fabric in terms of its flow and fall.
What are the benefits of up-cycling a saree?
Upcycling many times is referred as repurposing or refashioning or recycling in generic terms. Beyond the obvious benefit of reducing waste and advocating green-fashion, upcycling holds emotions, encourages creativity, celebrates craftmanship and minimizes new resource use.
Here are the 5 best ways to upcycle or repurpose your mom’s saree into stylish western outfits. These ‘I-was-A-Saree’ outfits not only turn heads in the party also be gentle on your pockets.
(1) Upcycle your mom’s floral saree to a stylish top
Saree, a six yard beauty can be made into a stylish top or a shirt. A floral organza or georgette saree can become a flirty top on a pair of jeans. A monochrome kanjeevaram or Banarasi saree can be styled as a formal shirt. Breathable linen or cotton saree can comfort you as a short kurti top in summers. Using borders bring in an Indian look. In case you want Indo-Western look, use them delicately on the sleeve ends as hems or cuffs. Using the border on the neck is a NO-NO.
(2) Upcycle a thick monochrome saree into a 2 pcs suit
Pant-Suit set from an elegant monochrome self-printed or plain silk saree is a feast to the eyes. You can go subtle with off-white, crème sarees or bold with brocade, Banarasi sarees. The rule is to make it from a thick and stiff saree for the corporate look. Do not use the borders. Coat can have ¾ sleeves or full sleeves and bold collars. Always use a very simple top inside. A shirt under the coat is a NO-NO.
(3) Upcycle a stylish cape from a satin and chiffon saree
A cape generally used as an accessory that sits on the back of the neck and falls on the back, arms, and chest. It is generally worn on a western outfit — trouser/ jeans and a top. Its existence can be traced back to medieval Europe. A saree which fits the definition of a flowy fabric ie., soft silk, chiffon, georgette, satin or crepe can be up-cycled to a stylish cape. The borders can be used around the neck or on the free edges. Using borders for bottom hem line is a NO-NO.
(4) Convert a saree to a stylish Co-ord set
Co-ords are generally made out of the same cloth matching the colour, texture and prints. They are meant to be worn together. It can be a top and skirt, top and a pair of pants or shorts or top and a palazzo. From a satin crepe or pure crepe or a chiffon saree, we can achieve stylish co-ord sets. Make sure you pick printed sarees for fun and plain sarees for muted look. These sets have made a comeback in a big way for its comfort and style.
(5) Any Saree can be a good fabric for a dress
When making dresses, satin and silk sarees are generally used for a grander look, where as linens and cottons are for summer look and thinner flowy georgettes and organzas and chiffons are for an easy look. Borders are a No-No and get the cuts and trims right to give that western look. Collars, cuffs, belts and fancy sleeves add that zing.
In Bangalore, not many tailors and boutiques turn your mom’s saree into a western outfit as some tailors may not be talented enough and some boutiques may not be competitive enough. FCOM India is first online tailoring platform in Bangalore that specialises in repurposing and upcycling your sarees into stylish trousers, jackets, tops, skirts and gowns. FCOM is popular because they send their designers home to pick the garments and drop them back too.
Leave a Reply