Old saris are at the core of many memos garments, shaping both their appearance and the way they are made.
Old Saris
A sari is a traditional garment worn across many regions of India, made from a single long piece of fabric draped around the body. Depending on origin and use, saris vary widely — from lightweight cottons to heavier silks, from simple everyday cloth to richly patterned textiles.
The saris used for memos are sourced in bundles. These bundles contain saris of different ages, materials, and conditions, often mixed together after long periods of use. Selection happens directly on site. Each sari is chosen for its softness, color, and print, and for how well it can work with specific designs.
Through years of wear, the fabrics change. Saris become softer and more flexible, colors shift, and prints lose sharpness. These traces are not corrected. They influence how the material behaves and how it is used.
Garments made from old saris are always unique. Even when the same cut is repeated, no two pieces are identical. Variations in print placement, color balance, and texture are unavoidable and intentional.
Old saris are often combined with everyday materials such as cotton, viscose, velvet, or fleece. These fabrics add structure, warmth, or contrast and make the garments suitable for different climates and uses.
Working with sari bundles means accepting variation. There is no uniform starting point and no predictable repetition. Each bundle introduces new possibilities and limits, requiring flexibility and experience throughout the process.
Old saris continue their life in a different form. They move from one context to another, across regions and cultures, without being erased. Their transformation is based on use, continuity, and respect for the time already invested in the material.