Soumya Kalluri: Refashioning & Upcycling the Future of Fashion

All of us sometimes have no idea where life will lead us or what God has in store for our prosperity and well-being. The same could be said for Soumya Kalluri’s life narrative. Soumya Kalluri is the CEO and the founder of DWIJ, which is Sanskrit for “second life.”

She changed her profession from mechanical engineer to businesswoman. Utilizing upcycled materials to create goods with minimal waste, custom fit, and vegan products.

Upcycling as a vision is not unknown, however, it has evolved to become noticeable only in contemporary times. With people becoming keener on investing in things that are organic, recycled, and upcycled, brands too are moving towards sustainability.

Humans haven’t been very thoughtful to the world. Climate change is out of control, and microplastics are embittering our oceans. But even when we try to decrease our footprint, we still need to wear shoes and clothes and occasionally drive vehicles.

So it’s essential that we all make eco-friendly alternatives to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and slow the spread of plastic waste. Luckily, some companies have figured out how to use that waste to make new products.

Made out of worn jeans and denim waste. making a significant contribution to a nation like India while doing something really special and typical.

When life wants to offer you something more than you can imagine, like when things changed from Germany to India. Soumya Kalluri went from working on a corporate firm’s waste project to running her own upcycled denim accessory company.

Icy Tales is in conversation with Soumya Kalluri on Upcycled Denim Accessory.

Q) What is the process of upcycled denim accessories?

Soumya Kalluri – Recycling and upcycling the items varies slightly from one another. The product is completely broken down into fragments during recycling, first becoming a structure resembling thread, then yarn, then fabric, and eventually the product itself.

With upcycling, we take the product and artistically transform it into something different, improving its quality, general appearance, and many other aspects. It’s a very resource-intensive undertaking that uses a lot of energy.

Denim comes in a variety of colors, sizes, and hues as well. Denim is brought to the firm from various marketplaces after being rough-washed.

Totes, slings, and bags are manufactured according to size, shape, and color, and whatever is left over is finally transformed into stunning and distinctive jewelry, home décor, hand-embroidered toys, and a variety of other items.

Q) How do you think such type of concept will contribute to the fashion industry?

Soumya Kalluri – Today’s consumers are aware of what fast fashion is, how to display or style their appearance with sustainable items, and where to get such goods on the market.

People want to learn about eco-friendly, vegan, and upcycled products, and protecting the environment is always our first concern. When consumers purchase items like jeans, they also consider how to dispose of them.

This is when businesses enter the scene and consider how to use products more effectively. There are several vegan options available; these alternatives to animal leather are created from synthetic and PU materials, however, they cannot be recycled.

Q) Developing the habit of thinking about the impact of our actions on the earth is something everyone should do. How do you aim to take it ahead and make everyone aware of it?

Soumya Kalluri- Making awareness was another major goal when DWIJ first started. The main goal of setting up exhibitions, blogging, and one-on-one conversations with clients is to inform them of the company’s main emphasis and how sustainable we are.

Making people aware of the dangers of dry cleaning, for instance, and providing them with alternatives like green dry cleaners or healthy ways to do it at home.

Q) There must be a journey full of ups and downs. Would you like to tell us something about your journey and what kept you going in the face of the challenges?

Soumya Kalluri- Each day is a brand-new day with fresh possibilities. In every sense, maintaining a small firm is difficult. A fresh opportunity is presented by designing, perhaps working in HR, and eventually managing.

It was really difficult and novel for me to go from a completely different background to a career in fashion and manage the company’s marketing.

The constant dependence on waste is a problem since it prevents us from doing large-scale activities till then. Creating awareness of the need for such things in the first place requires time, effort, and efficiency in marketing. It is the most challenging to create awareness.

Q) What made you think of doing such unique and incredible work?

Soumya Kalluri – I have been concerned with the environment and how to maintain it safe and clean since I was a little child. Understanding what you want from life and what your greater aspirations are helped me quickly see that working for corporations is no longer my cup of tea. The major thing that kept me going was my spirituality.

Soumya Kalluri strongly believes in refashioning the future of fashion by developing a new product of a higher quality or for a purpose other than what it was first intended using trash or abandoned resources. What is junk to one person, is a treasure to another.

With a bit of creativity, nearly anything can be upcycled: worn shutters, wood pallets, cardboard packaging, tattered clothing — even your old toothpaste tubes.

Turn unwanted items into chic home decor, modern furniture, or a functional light fixture. To support and encourage your next clever DIY project, Soumya Kalluri’s brand has rounded up the best upcycling ideas that will save you money, reduce your waste at home, and help with fashion.

Every piece of clothing offers the chance to rethink design in a way that improves the world. The only skill required for upcycling is creativity. Trash is turned into treasure by inventive minds.

We must build fashion from the ground up if we want it to be sustainable. To make something specifically for you, we’re repurposing outdated craft and furniture styles. Because excellent design should never be thrown away, upcycle and step up your game.