Ensures fair living wage for producers
Discloses the community being impacted
Reduces the environmental impact
Focusses on women producers
Created using handcrafted methods
Reduces/Reuses/
Recycles resources
Recycles resources
Made out of responsible materials
Avoids use of chemicals or toxic materials
Biodegradable or environment friendly
Théla is an upcycling initiative that handcrafts products with discarded plastic, thus diverting plastic waste from filling landfills, polluting oceans, and harming wildlife.
They work with artisan communities to crochet and weave with discarded plastic carry bags, packaging wrappers, and sheets used in agriculture to make fashion, lifestyle, and home accessories.
Purpose
Plastic is a material that is very special – it is both light and strong, it takes any shape and lasts forever – yet, we use it so casually and throw it away in heaps. Plastic is also a material that the environment simply cannot digest – it does not decompose and instead breaks down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil, water, and the food we eat. At Théla, this waste is diverted from harming the environment to make unique, premium products that urge its users to reimagine plastic to be the precious material that it is.
People
The woven products are made in collaboration with ethical organizations in India. The textiles are woven by Khamir, a cultural craft center in Kutch, Gujarat. Apart from reviving traditional, family-run handloom weaving skills, their plastic weaving initiative provides employment to waste collectors, medium-skilled weavers, home-based workers, senior citizens, and prison inmates. The products are tailored at C C Shroff, a fair trade, self-help center in Mumbai. Their main objective is to provide economic independence to low-skilled and physically challenged people. They guide, train, and equip them with skills like tailoring, embroidery, and handicrafts. Several of the products are made by Rajiben, an independent, skilled weaver in Kutch. She works as an independent artisan under the guidance of Kaarigar Clinic, a start-up that helps rural artisans become independent and strengthen their business skills.
Planet
Nylon is used as the warp while weaving with plastic waste which is plastic, new plastic. So for Théla bags, the weavers have used cotton instead. Instead of working with the standard sheet sizes available they asked for custom sizes specific to products to ensure zero wastage during tailoring. They also ensure that tailors work with these sheets without cutting the edges. No cutting, no wastage, no micro-plastics! The plastic woven fabrics are tailored in combination with organic cotton fabrics that are naturally dyed with herbs, fruits & vegetables as opposed to conventional chemical dyes that are toxic. Lastly, all the products are vegan. They do not use animal products or by-products.