If you’ve ever had that dreaded “I have nothing to wear” moment, this project’s for you. In today’s culture of fast fashion, there’s often pressure to own the latest styles and always have something new to wear. To meet these unrealistic expectations, women are turning to inexpensive, mass-produced lehengas that are becoming easier to find through online retailers. But, these one-time-use runway knockoffs typically use poor-quality, unsustainable materials and create unnecessary waste. As an alternative, consider upcycling a sari into a unique lehenga that reflects your own personal style.

For this project my re-fashionista grandmother had a beautiful black and charcoal grey sari with a traditional printed pattern. While it was a gorgeous, high-quality sari, we wanted to give it a fresh look and add more of a modern touch that better reflected my personal style. By working with a tailor, we created a one-of-a-kind lehenga choli set.

Our tailor used the sari to create a pleated A-line skirt with a simple silver border at the bottom of the skirt. The silhouette was inspired by runway styles and transformed a traditional sari into a modern, high-waist skirt. To complete the look, we added a silver choli with sheer net fabric for the sleeves (another modern touch!) and a matching net dupatta.

With just a few added materials, I now have a brand new lehenga choli customized for my personal style and that will last for years to come.

Recap

What we upcycled: a printed silk sari

Additional material needed: 1 meter silver fabric for the choli, 4 meters lightweight net fabric for the sleeves and dupatta, and 4 meters of black fabric to line the skirt (rather than purchasing new fabric, remember to check your closet for lightweight fabric that you can use for the lining)

The finished product: a high-waist lehenga with contrasting choli and dupatta.

Tips

• Your style preferences may change over time, but that doesn’t mean your wardrobe can’t keep up! Get creative, and don’t be afraid to combine the old and the new. Even the slightest changes — jewelry, handbag, shoes, or how you style your hair and makeup — can completely alter a look.