Recycled Fabrics

What are Recycled Fabrics?

Recycled fabrics in India combine material recovery with traditional and contemporary textile techniques to transform post-consumer and post-industrial waste into usable fabric surfaces. This includes heritage practices such as Kantha stitching, Khes weaving (reweaving old sarees and textiles into new cloth), and modern approaches like upcycled denim and industrial textile recovery.

At VISHH, we collaborate with artisan communities and material units to develop recycled textile solutions for fashion, home and hospitality projects.

Our role is to bridge circular material practices with structured production systems - ensuring recycled textiles can move from experimental sampling into reliable, small-batch and project-scale manufacturing.

Regional Origins & Craft Heritage

Recycling traditions in India have long been embedded in domestic and community-based textile systems. Practices such as layering worn fabrics into kantha quilts or reweaving used sarees into khes textiles reflect a cultural approach to material longevity and reuse.

These heritage systems now inform contemporary circular design, where regional clusters combine traditional techniques with modern material processing to create recycled fabrics suited for commercial and architectural use.

Materials & Technical Process

The process begins with sorting and grading textile waste, which may include cotton, silk, wool, denim and blended fibres. Depending on the technique, materials are:

Layered and hand-stitched for kantha-based surfaces
Rewoven into new cloth for khes textiles made from old sarees and garments
Shredded, re-spun or reassembled for upcycled denim and industrial textile recovery

Artisans then weave, stitch or felt these materials into new fabric surfaces, creating textures that reflect both material history and handcrafted intervention.

Applications in Contemporary Design & Hospitality

At VISHH, we can apply recycled fabrics across:

Upholstery and soft furnishings
Wall panels and textile artworks
Floor coverings and layered surfaces
Spatial and cultural installations
Apparel & accessories

In hospitality environments, recycled textiles introduce sustainability narratives, material depth and visual texture into guest-facing spaces.

From Sampling to Small-Batch Production

VISHH manages:

Material sourcing and fibre testing
Surface sampling and durability trials
Pattern development and colour planning
Batch scheduling and quality benchmarks

This ensures recycled fabric elements remain consistent and suitable for commercial, interior and architectural applications.

Working with Designers, Architects & Brands

We collaborate on circular material experimentation, custom pattern development and installation feasibility - ensuring recycled textile concepts translate reliably into real-world production systems.

Looking to develop recycled textile surfaces or circular fabric installations in India?
Connect with VISHH to explore artisan sourcing and small-batch production.