Ka-Sha harnesses upcycling and crafts to survive pandemic

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jan 18, 2022

Designer Karishma Shahani Khan’s zero-waste clothing brand Ka-Sha responded to the pandemic by embracing manufacturing processes that could be completed in the home as the brand innovates sustainable design solutions.

“We survived two lockdowns only thanks to handwork,” Shahani Khan told U.S. Vogue.

The designer responded to the pan-India lockdown which shut down all ‘non-essential’ manufacturing units including textiles for months on end by turning her focus to designs which could be made from home. This birthed the brand’s crochet and knitwear collection which Ka-Sha’s craftspeople manufactured from their own homes during lockdown. 

As part of the brand’s commitment to zero-waste, Ka-Sha also further developed its 'Heart to Haat' sister brand which upcycles fabric scraps from Ka-Sha’s collections as well as other fabric waste to create homeware, clothing, and accessories.  

“Our aim is to ensure that no material or textile is discarded for as long as it can be reused or repurposed. Usually we work with even the smallest bits of fabric remnants left over after the cutting processes of our products and sometimes, we also repurpose Ka-Sha products or textiles that have slight defects to extend their longevity.”
 
Karishma Shahani Khan launched Ka-Sha in 2012 after graduating from the London College of Fashion, UK with the aim of translating the Indian tradition for reusing and recycling for the fashion industry. Ka-Sha retails from its dedicated e-commerce store which ships worldwide and houses its full selection of womenswear and accessories.