Arts
Giving new life to those old familiar sarees
As with any young person, Draupadie Weerapperuma’s college years had a major impact on her world view. But when she found herself at the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise, Ithaca College, New York double majoring in Business Administration and Economics she little knew that a silky blue thrift store skirt would direct her to her purpose in life and her own sustainable clothing line almost a decade later: ‘Majä- a New Story’.
Upcycling and recycling: Maja’s bold trajectory. Pix by Luke Darsha
It was while studying in New York that Draupadie was introduced to a different outlook towards veganism and sustainability which were increasingly gaining popularity around her. Local produce was not just existent but celebrated and trendy. Veganism was growing in popularity and accessibility. Draupadie spent her undergrad years watching the community around her make consistent and conscious efforts to live a responsible and sustainable life without compromising on quality and value.
It was in a thrift store in downtown New York that she had her light bulb moment. Among the trove of interesting knick-knacks a blue silk saree with gold motifs caught her eye. Or rather, it had been a saree! The unique skirt left a lasting impression on the undergrad and set her own mind to work. “My grandmother was the vice principal of a school and my mother was a banker,” she explains the reason behind the cupboards full of sarees piled up back home. She was soon transforming unused sarees into skirts and dresses for herself.
Returning to Sri Lanka she worked at MAS Holdings with a focus on sustainability and waste management. All of these experiences serendipitously led to the launch of her own fashion initiative last November. Called Majä- a New Story (pronounced Maya), the aptly named label breathes new life into ‘pre loved’ sarees.
Draupadie is a hands-on entrepreneur with every single element of the label focusing on cultivating an enthusiasm and appreciation for upcycled, sustainable clothing. Even the packaging is made using 100% recycled packaging by Women in Need, a not for profit organization dedicated to the cause of elimination of all forms of violence against women and children.
“My end goal was to make it a full cycle of giving back,” Draupadie says. And Majä really does live up to its aim. All the products are created using sarees in good condition donated to her by friends and family. She is also open to purchasing sarees at a nominal price in exchange for store credit. While Maja recognizably transforms pre-used sarees into skirts, tops, occasion wear and clutches, Draupadie’s vision for the initiative was also to share her passion and empower others along the way. Her team comprises women from Pugoda, Kekirawa and Hanwella who knew how to stitch but were unable to go out to work. A portion of the profits are also given to a charity organization.
Draupadie Weerapperuma and some of her creations
Familiar saree prints stand out as bright, exotic one of kind skirts, tops and bags under Draupadie and her team’s eye for meticulous detail and tender loving care. Majä is continually evolving too, and they aren’t afraid to play around with the pieces and keep exploring creative ways of upcycling and reducing waste through their range of reversible and reusable bags and skirts. For Draupadie, it’s not enough to produce using recycled material. “Focusing on waste management, reducing your input to landfills, celebrating artisanal work and reducing manufacturing waste are important,” she lists, adding the personal benefit of knowing that you are making the effort to upcycle.
Despite selling out every single pop-up sale since last November, Draupadie feels that sustainable fashion deserves more appreciation. In the recent past, Sri Lanka’s fashion scene and apparel industry have been exploring sustainable practices with several young brands on the rise. “It’s still a niche market though,” she adds frankly. “Everyone wants something with a name.”
She hopes that hers’ and other sustainable brand efforts can continue to prove that you can still look good and make a positive impact on the planet. “It’s about doing your part in a small way,” she explains. It’s why her label is an uncommonly spelled take on a name familiar across cultures – “Maya” meaning illusion. “I wanted it to reflect my work- yes, it’s something old, but it can become something new.”
For more information, find Majä- a New Story on Instagram and Facebook or email them at majaanewstory@gmail.com. You can also find them on www.etsy.com/shop/majaAnewStory. Their website will also be active from November 1 at www.majaanewstory.com
