{"id":16186,"date":"2020-12-12T04:14:49","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T22:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.instamojo.com\/blog\/?p=16186"},"modified":"2023-01-05T11:27:44","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T05:57:44","slug":"how-holyscrap-turned-textile-trash-into-treasure-with-a-little-self-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.instamojo.com\/blog\/how-holyscrap-turned-textile-trash-into-treasure-with-a-little-self-care\/","title":{"rendered":"How HolyScrap turned textile trash into treasure with a little self-care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know India generates the most textile waste in the world? One entrepreneur takes responsibility to change this;\u00a0 and the narrative surrounding upcycled fabric and products.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sneha, chef-turned-entrepreneur and founder of ‘HolyScrap’,<\/strong> wants your textile waste and she will turn it into one of the most beautiful things you will ever own. Patchwork quilt, tote bag, coasters – you name it.<\/p>\n

We got in touch with Sneha to know more about her unique and sustainable small business and talk about her goal to save the planet, one fabric at a time.<\/p>\n

From art therapy to a small business – setting up HolyScrap<\/h4>\n

Burnout is a common issue faced by millennials today, and Sneha endured tremendous stress from her day job. Eventually, she threw in the apron and decided to talk to a counsellor. When the counsellor recommended she take a break, Sneha took to relaxing and clearing her mind to indulge in a little self-care.<\/p>\n

\"Sneha<\/a>
Sneha – Founder – Holyscrap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

” I started stitching and doodling as part of my art therapy, for about 15-20 minutes a day. With no steady income, it was difficult to continue doing art daily. Eventually, I developed an interest and\u00a0watched DIY videos and started to experiment around different styles. I recycled fabric I had and worked on making a patchwork quilt.\u00a0 .” – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sneha saw potential in ‘trash’ – good quality cloth thrown aside by tailors and boutique stores, and that way she also saw a new business opportunity!<\/p>\n

\"Patch<\/a>
One of the most popular products on the Holyscrap store – the patchwork quilt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recycling fabric to create something new<\/h3>\n

After her first patchwork quilt project became a success, Sneha decided to set up a business online. She started with an Instagram page and soon after, an Instamojo online store.<\/a><\/p>\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instamojo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Untitled-design-5.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

How did she source her raw materials? Sneha would pay a visit to tailors and boutique stores and ask for cloth they were going to throw away.<\/p>\n

” There were bags of good-quality cloth that would simply end up in a landfill. Instead, I would take these bags of “waste cloth” home, and spend hours trying to make something new out of them.” – Sneha, founder, Holyscrap<\/p>\n

” Tailors would contact me to say over 1 kg of ‘good ikat’ cloth was going to be discarded and I would rush to take the material from them! Never missed an opportunity to source textile of great worth and quality before it got dumped.” – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How Holyscrap acquired new customers<\/h4>\n

Soon after the Holyscrap online store<\/a> and the Instagram page went LIVE, Sneha began to rope in customers – who weren’t even her peers!<\/p>\n

” I got overwhelming support from people on the internet who were not my immediate family or from my friends’ circle. This gave me the push and motivation I needed to continue and scale what I set out to do with Holyscrap – upcycled products with a message! ” – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sneha’s products began to sell out as soon as she uploaded them, however, she says the story is far from being over.<\/p>\n

” We still need to change the way we see upcycled and recycled products, because India has a huge issue with generating waste. ” – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Holyscrap’s story – Changing the narrative around waste<\/h4>\n

How do you convince Indian customers to buy something recycled? According to Indiantextilejournal<\/a>,<\/span> more than 1 million tonnes of textile gets\u00a0thrown away\u00a0every year, with most of this coming from household sources. and only\u00a025% of textile\u00a0waste gets\u00a0recycled.\u00a0Even now, cloth scrap that brand factories throw, gets burnt or thrown in landfill where it rots away for aeons!<\/p>\n

” Indians will spend a lot of money on metres of the same cloth used for one product. However, they refuse to pay more when it’s a patchwork of different scrap cloth because they think the value will be lesser.” – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But they’re wrong, and Holyscrap wants customers to understand why.<\/p>\n

The intricate creative process behind upcycled products<\/h4>\n

“It is easy to measure and cut one cloth and make say, a quilt. But, imagine looking at different measurements of cloth, sorting it, and designing a utility-based product that looks beautiful in someone’s home or in public. There’s extra time, creativity and patience involved in bringing upcycled products to life. Our quilts could take upto a month to make! These products may be scrap; but they are washed and as good as the final product at the tailors. – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Holyscrap\"<\/a>
Scrap cloth ready to be designed and stitched together to make bags, quilts and coasters!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the future, Sneha wants Indians to change their buying behaviour. Buying recycled and used goods is a norm in the USA and UK thanks to thrift stores, it is still unheard of in India.<\/p>\n

“This was not how Indians consumed, we used to recycle our grandmothers’ sarees for other attire. We are becoming mindless with our consumption patterns, and I am hoping the pandemic has given us some time to reflect.” – Sneha<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Holyscrap does not limit itself to beautiful upcycled textile products. The brand also finds potential in plywood, newspaper and glass! The other products Holyscrap sells on the online store include –<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Birdhouses made from upcycled and discarded plywood<\/li>\n
  2. ‘Seed’ Pencils made with newspaper that you plant once it’s used.<\/li>\n
  3. Bookmarks and luggage tags made from old wedding card invitations<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"Holyscrap\"<\/a>
    New upcycled product – Birdhouse from scrap plywood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Interested in brand collaborations? Get in touch<\/h4>\n

    Handling the long creative process of upcycled products is not easy.<\/p>\n

    Sneha needed a little professional assistance and manpower. Fortunately, a friend recommended reaching out to NGOs that wanted to provide job opportunities to specially-abled people. Sneha spent time working with these NGOs, sharing her skillsets, and managing orders via the Instamojo store.<\/p>\n

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    A post shared by Holy Scrap ! \ud83e\uddff (@holyscrapproducts)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n