This online store 'Chindi' specialises in upcycled homeware and accessories

An upcycled rugAs organic as the nature of brand Chindi is its genesis too was no different An initiative built on upcycled products Chindi is the brainchild of 34yearold Tanushri Shukla who comes from a family of garment manufacturers The brand sells goods made from waste raw materials collected from tailoring and garment manufacturing units across the city Shukla has roped in the women from Mankhurd slums who crochet and knit products that are put up on sale on the websiteMy family has a garment manufacturing unit in Mankhurd that I would often visit as a kid The name Chindi borrows from what the tailors would refer to the waste cloth lying around mdash the chindi kapda And I would keep seeing these huge piles of chindi wondering how they could be put to some use Shukla saysTanushri Shukla with team ChindiShe would sit at the unit and knit all day Its my hobby One fine day a woman working at the unit spotted me knitting and told me that she likes to knit and crochet too and that she knows several other women in her neighbourhood who do the same she adds That was when the idea struck ShuklaKnitting and crocheting are craft forms that are dying out So I thought why not use all the chindi available and start something Most of these women are north Indian migrants who grew up knitting and crocheting They have mastered the craft When I finally met them I saw that they had already made upcycled rugs and other home ware Upcycling for them is a way of life they dont do it as a fad So the philosophy there is authentic she adds These are also women who are not allowed to have formal jobs so this was a way for them to make a quick buck without tearing themselves away from household responsibilities The women make anywhere between Rs 2000Rs 10000 a monthldquoWe pay them per piece irrespective of whether or not the piece is sold The market is still niche but compared to how it was a yearandahalf ago when we started it has grown If the products are designed well there will be genuine takersrdquo Shukla says The website offers a variety of homeware like rugs mats pouches slingbags and hair accessories moderately priced within the range of Rs 150Rs 1500So what does the future hold for Chindi we ask Last year our hair accessories were showcased on the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week We went to the workshop for Nor Black Nor White and spotted five years worth of chindi there Waste cloth at fashion houses is a treasure trove mdash sometimes you find 10 metres of some leftover fabric or 5 metres of unused block print material because of a misprint We shared the idea of making products out of those and the brand was more than happy to collaborate Thats the kind of partnership we want to have because it makes a real impactrdquo Shukla saysTo buy the productslog on to wwwchindiin