Reshm - My graduation project

The STORY

'Reshm' means silk in Hindi. The aim of the business is to be identified as an indie eco-conscious brand that upcycles silk collected from factory waste to create an eclectic range of statement bags and accessories.

India is the second largest producer of silk in the world, and the label aims to repurpose a fragment of the country’s indigenous silk waste while working closely with underprivileged communities and local artisans in Bangalore, to create a range of products that are not only one-of-a-kind but also ethical. This brand will retail exclusively in Singapore and cater to the steadily growing eco-conscious consumer base.

The idea for this label stems from my love for bags and bold accessories, and the common inconvenience faced by my friends and I due to the lack of brands offering authentic Indian products in Singapore.

Sustainable fashion is perceived as expensive and more often than not, it is in fact highly priced. Reshm aims to connect to the fashionable consumer that wants to invest in ethical products without burning a hole in his/her pocket. By working with affordable price points, the label will aim to urge consumers to make the shift from fast-fashion brands to sustainable alternatives. The product categories will be bags, earrings and bangles. The PROCESS

The procurement of the silk waste will happen from the tailoring unit “Anokhi Fashion Ladies Boutique”. Imran runs a small Bangalore-based tailoring business with 6 tailors working under them. The textile waste produced by the unit is of copious amounts and this is where Reshm will come in and hit two birds with one stone. The tailors will collect the scrap pieces of various silk fabrics every month and hand them over to the designer at Reshm. Once the designs are made, the silk waste will be handed back to the artisans to create the pieces for a fee. By doing this, the artisans gain another source of revenue and the brand establishes a short supply chain while also tackling the problem of textile waste.

The PRODUCTS

The FUTURE

This is more than just a graduation project. Sustainable fashion is where my interest lies and after being aware of the scary facts and figures caused by the fashion industry, it's hard to look the other way. I aim to gauge how the first order is received in the market and pursue this project further from there. I will set up and online store and approach stockists with Reshm's products to expand the business into a fully functioning one. Here's hoping this initiative sees the light of day.