Manai has been an ever-evolving universe for me and its center is upcycling. I thrive on taking a thought from inception to creation using pre-existing resources around me.

It began with textiles, my first playground, a realm where upcycling was instinctual even before I understood its definition. I wanted to stand out and have something no one else could have so I sneakily repurposed my mother's sarees to manifest my vision. The possibilities of Manai are endless. Here, you find yourself, get lost, and dream in the endless possibilities that upcycling offers.

I hope to take you through Manai in its larva stage so we can witness its transformation as it takes shape.

I lived in the coastal region of South India where the space to experiment with fashion is directly proportionate to the degree of the conservativeness of a family. Looking different was frowned upon. The concept of "fashion" expanded for me when a friend introduced me to Avril Lavigne in 6th grade and by high school, my taste was very different, and nothing I found locally fit the bill.

Online shopping was just blossoming then and most of them didn't even deliver to where I lived. That’s when I came across thrifting before it was internet-cool.

There were Instagram pages that I came across from Dimapur that were acclaimed thrift stores. I was a little skeptical but ordered a piece and never looked back. Soon after, I stumbled upon the documentary "The True Cost," and it flipped my whole perspective on consumption.

I just couldn't wrap my head around all that waste that existed.

Manai was born out of sheer boredom during the lockdown, fueled by a mind bursting with possibilities. I took items from my closet and some from my mother’s collaborated with a local tailor, and launched the brand on Instagram. In 2023, I wanted to delve deeper into landfills and saree textiles, which led my to Bombay and Ahmedabad.

There, I encountered my vendor Samuel from Bombay. A student juggling his father's waste business alongside his studies, he ran operations from his home in Mulund, nestled near a canal. Every nook and cranny of his house brimmed with vibrant post-consumer sarees. We connected over our shared entrepreneurial drive, and I admired his knack for guiding me through the piles of sarees to find just the right ones.

I was amazed to find beautiful sarees in very good condition that would otherwise be used as wiping cloths. Some were sold to villagers. I purchased about 50 sarees from him, ranging from silk, polyester, chiffon, and organza, in vibrant colors and eccentric prints. I truly felt like a kid in a candy store.

I truly felt like a kid in a candy store.

My exploration continued in Ahmedabad, where a friend guided me through the markets of old Ahmedabad, and I discovered a bazaar at Delhi Darwaza. It was mostly women on the streets with small heaps of post-consumer sarees, even more beautiful than before. I bought about 10 of them and returned home feeling like a RockStar

Traditionally, designing involves creating mood boards and sketches, then selecting fabrics that align with the vision. However, I see the fabric itself as a mood board, inspiring the design process.

Working with post-consumer waste presents its challenges; although the fabric is still usable, it may have stains or small holes that complicate cutting patterns.

Ripped effect

Since the lifespan of the saree before disposal is uncertain, we conduct patch tests to assess durability before proceeding with construction.

Sarees that I adore but can't be used in their entirety are transformed into smaller textile cuts and incorporated into patterns. Adding fabric stabilizers, canvas, and lining ensures durability and longevity, allowing these beautiful fabrics to be cherished for years to come.

@spookyritix

I'm drawn to textiles that look larger than life, luminescent and bright. Those who wear Manai demand attention; they are impossible to ignore.

Design is transcendant and makes this
hopeless life beautiful.

Good design makes the most boring things in the world captivating. As an aspiring nation, we often overlook the resources we have at our disposal: textiles, craftsmanship, grandeur, intricate designs, and sacredness—they're all here. I love referencing Indian textiles and incorporating them into my style. I enjoy designing pieces that speak for themselves. I don't understand why there seems to be an unspoken rule that Indian textiles should only be used in traditional ways, and anything else is dismissed.

Upcycling sarees has allowed me to constantly connect with my roots, which I've come to cherish deeply, and to build a world that perhaps hasn't existed before. With creation comes responsibility, and considering the amount of waste in our landfills, we should all be a bit more mindful. Sustainability often carries the connotation of sacrificing good design that matches our taste and style in order to be greener, but that's not the case. That's precisely the point this brand is trying to make.

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