Devyani Kharbanda Molds Waste Fabric Into Eco-friendly Wedding Wear

Making eco-friendly garments would probably be the last thing on a budding designer's mind. However, Devyani Kharbanda is inspired to club great design with sustainable practices. And mind you she is still a student at a popular Delhi Fashion school. Moreover, her collection has already been showcased, at the latest edition of Amazon India Fashion Week.

Devyani's designs at Amazon India Fashion Week

Her family migrated to Delhi from Dehradun, when she was 3. Devyani recollects, “I have been fortunate to travel the world in ships since my childhood. My mother being a super talented and artistic person, made sure my elder brother and I participate in all the drawing competitions in Delhi. She even kept teaching me little design elements like embroidery, craft, painting, etc."

When living up to the heavy price tags is a norm, Devyani is changing trends with her collection named ‘Raunaq’. It’s not news that we lack recycling options, and the clothing industry needs to have a base of the eco-friendly market.

The Crafting Dream

Devyani is a final year student of fashion designing at Pearl Academy of Fashion, Delhi. She reused kataran, the unwanted waste fabric left after making a garment, to design a line of new clothes. “Since my childhood only I have been attracted to well-dressed people with proper clothing and footwear. I had been anyway inclined to art and design thanks to my mother and that’s when I decided to become a fashion designer myself,” she said.

Vibrant Designs

Also Read: Weaving magic for transgender women: A unique initiative by a Kerala designer

Inventing The Idea

While talking Devyani explained, “I was working on Indian weddings as my inspiration in my final project. Fortunately or unfortunately demonetisation happened during that time. That’s when my mentor,  Ambika Magotra,  suggested  I club the effect of demonitisation on Indian weddings. As wedding dresses these days are exorbitantly priced, I thought why not use such a material which is not very expensive in beautifying the garments and make them look unique, different and wearable. That moment I found out about the waste fabrics (kataran) which I collected from various tailors in and around my colony. I amalgamated age-old techniques like couching, yoyo flowers, waste fabric tassels, etc.”

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The Uniqueness

An elated Devyani urged, "These garments are designed and the surface ornamentation was all done by me. I have started developing my new range on similar lines. And I'm already getting orders".

Devyani's Designs

When asked why her designs are so efficient when it comes to being the best in the market. She said, “My USP is using waste fabric to develop different kinds of surfaces. My target market is girls between 20 and 30 years of age who are experimental and just don't follow trends.”

More and more women are becoming independent. This independence is not limited to the designers, but the workers at the lowest level too.

Recycling And More 

A unique style, we asked her about the compulsion that led her to restore eco-friendly fabric for the Indians. She claimed, “Post the show, reviews and media have been very encouraging which has boosted my confidence. I received a lot of positive feedback for my design and idea of using waste fabric. I am very surface texture oriented so I beautify (surface) my garment without spending a lot. As designer clothing is exorbitantly priced these days making it interesting and eye-catching but not having people to spend too much in purchasing was appreciated by everyone. ”

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The greatest moment was naming my collection 'Raunaq' after my brother. He inspires me and shows me the right path in life always. Hence, the great feeling that my first collection named on him is doing so well.

In the near future, Devyani wants to learn more about the designs. And she tells us that once she completes her degree, she aims to collaborate with an export house. Meanwhile, she is devoting her time to crafting garments now.

READ: From ‘Pan’ To ‘Beauty And The Beast’, Shailini Sheth Amin is Promoting Sustainable Fabrics

Read More Stories By Ria Das

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