I was a Sari

I was a Sari is a social enterprise and circular fashion label that creates contemporary apparel, accessories, and home goods by upcycling pre-loved Indian saris. Founded in 2013 by Stefano Funari, an Italian entrepreneur living in Mumbai, the company was born from the idea of leveraging the vast market of used saris to create sustainable livelihoods for women in the city's disadvantaged communities. Funari, a former business consultant with no formal background in fashion, was inspired to create a business model that combined social purpose with environmental sustainability after witnessing the potential in both the overlooked fabrics and the women who could transform them.

The company operates under the registered name 2nd Innings Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. and functions as a for-profit social enterprise, reinvesting all its profits back into the business to further its social mission of empowering women. Its business model follows a "triple bottom line" approach, focusing on Planet, People, and Prosperity. The production process begins with handpicking pre-loved saris from markets, followed by rigorous quality checks. These selected fabrics are then transformed into unique, handcrafted products by a workforce of female artisans. The company collaborates with several local NGOs, such as Community Outreach Programme (CORP) and Animedh Charitable Trust, to manage the training and production processes, providing women with skills in tailoring and hand embroidery.

A significant milestone for I was a Sari has been its partnership with Gucci since 2018 through the Gucci Equilibrium initiative. This collaboration has provided strategic support, access to resources, and specialized embroidery training for the artisans, traditionally a male-dominated skill in India. Gucci also provides leftover materials for upcycling, and its employees have mentored the team in areas like marketing and operations. The brand has received notable accolades, including the Circular Design Challenge Award at Lakmé Fashion Week and the Responsible Disruptive Award at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in Milan in 2019.

Keywords: upcycled fashion, social enterprise, sustainable apparel, circular economy, women empowerment, artisan-made products, pre-loved saris, eco-ethical fashion, handcrafted accessories, sustainable livelihoods, Indian textiles, circular fashion, ethical production, Mumbai-based startup, Gucci Equilibrium, Stefano Funari, textile recycling, social impact fashion, sustainable accessories, handmade goods