Pre-loved sarees collected by Young Indians Visakhapatnam chapter will be upcycled into reusable bags, promoting circular economy and climate action.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A saree tucked away in a wardrobe could soon find a second life as an eco-friendly marathon bag. The Young Indians (Yi) Visakhapatnam chapter has joined the nationwide ‘Saree to Sanchi’ campaign, an initiative that blends sustainability and heritage by transforming pre-loved sarees into reusable bags for the Kovalam Marathon 2026.
The city chapter is inviting saree donations at Nua Boutique, Lawsons Bay, until August 1. Residents are encouraged to donate clean, pre-loved sarees, particularly those that reflect the heritage and textile traditions of the region.
The campaign, spearheaded nationally by Young Indians under its Climate Change initiative in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), aims to reduce textile waste while promoting a circular economy through reuse and upcycling. The collected sarees will be repurposed into eco-friendly drawstring bags for marathon participants, creating livelihood opportunities for artisans in the process.
The initiative also aims to celebrate the emotional and cultural value of the garment. Organisers are also encouraging donations from women leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, doctors, educators and public representatives, with each saree carrying its own story and memories.
According to the campaign, every donated saree helps divert textile waste from landfills, lowers the carbon footprint associated with producing new fabric, supports sustainable livelihoods and strengthens community participation in climate action. The initiative also highlights India’s rich handloom traditions by encouraging contributors to donate sarees unique to their region, such as Kanjivaram, Banarasi, Chanderi or Mysore silk weaves.
“The campaign draws inspiration from the belief that sustainability begins with extending the life of what already exists. Rather than discarding garments with sentimental value, families are encouraged to give them a meaningful purpose,” says Suchandra Parvataneni, Climate Change chair, Young Indians Visakhapatnam chapter.
To be a part of the nationwide movement, people can drop off their donations at Nua Boutique, Lawsons Bay, before August 1.
Published – July 10, 2026 08:21 am IST
