Sari and Indian dresses. I am constantly finding gorgeous Indian dresses! I would like to rework them for a Ren Faire costume. Is that okay?? I don’t know how these are just at the bins and people aren’t keeping them! These are works of art!
Yeah I think what I am finding is def not actual silk and cotton. These are more prefab dresses that have the vibe of a traditional Sari. I'm not an expert by far. The detail work and trims are all still amazing and I am so glad to put them to good use then.
This is really interesting, thank you for sharing.
The Goodwill I used to work at was in a college town and it has a huge Indian population so we frequently had Saris and dresses donated. We hung and priced them as regular dresses but sadly most didn't sell so they did end up going to the bins.
I agree, they are gorgeous!
Yes; it is okay.
Thanks for the feedback. I am always seeing so many! Is there any reason do you know why they are not kept, like is there something about rewearing these? Or I was thinking after a big wedding perhaps people just don’t think they would have an occasion to wear these again. Sometimes it looks like a whole wedding party donated everything all at once.
A good friend of mine (white woman) is married to an Indian man. She gets away with rewearing outfits because despite being married for over 12 years his family still sees her as clueless and cheap. Which she’s fine with because she’s not clueless and she’s also not about to spend hundreds on an outfit and only wear it once. Her in laws, his cousins and other family female family members often only wear an outfit once. And they don’t sell their outfits because to do so would imply you need the money which isn’t something you admit to.
Got it. Thanks for the clarification. I did come across a few places in my internet research of this topic that there are places who rent out really nice Indian outfits. So maybe she has a place like that or online and she can have fun wearing different amazing dresses too.
Some people don't rewear. What's more likely is that someone died and they got rid of their whole closet.
I've bought shoes this way because of my size six wide shoe size. Usually a grandma passed away and only wore the shoes to church and had a huge shoe collection.
One of the Goodwills in Las Vegas had a whole aisle of sari/Indian type dresses and clothing. So many beautiful patterns and colors!
Same, they’re so beautiful and made with great fabrics.
I got a literal huge pile of dresses for $17, it feels almost wrong! I know by the time they're at the bins I shouldn't worry too much about it though, but I also don't want to be an ass. I also see prayer rugs which I find grogeous but that's a line I wouldn't cross. It would be pretty uncool to see someone wearing a vest made out of a prayer rug. They're also so pretty but yeah that def does not feel ok.
Many do not rewear the same outfit twice.
That's kinda what I figured. Makes sense, there's a lot of Joy in finding a NEW beautiful dress as well. My fairy costume is going to be GORGEOUS! I'm going for like a hybrid Fairy / Nordic Shaman vibe, but BRIGHT colors and bling, a very opulent tattered vibe.
That sounds awesome. I’m a renfaire goer too!! Please share what you’ve created when you can!
I did make something recently and I have pictures of that. I am new to Reddit. I will make a new post as it’s completely different. It’s a snail costume lol.
This is so good to know. I've seen crafts online made of sari fabric and wondered why good clothes were getting used like this. Now I can shop knowing that items made like that by reputable crafters are reclaiming fabric from going to waste.
Even using for a throw, pillow cover, table topper, lots of ideas. The explanation others have given for seeing these barely work items hanging in a thrift makes sense now.
I was talking with the ladies who own a Desi beauty salon that I go to for threading and facials. They said that the outfits are rarely reworn or passed down/passed along. I asked them what they thought about me buying some of the ones that I often find in the bins and finding ways to up cycle, or reuse the beautiful trim and beading, etc. they all loved the idea so I’ve been collecting them as I find them with the intention of cutting away some of the trim for an as-yet-amorphous project I have in my head, and putting aside the material for a friend of mine who is a seamstress. I hate to see them go to waste.
If it wasn’t okay to do whatever, it wouldn’t have been donated
I wouldn’t use that as a rule of thumb, especially at the bins. Who knows how it got there
I agree. Context matters. How it’s worn matters. I wouldn’t even be asking if I didn’t have some qualms about it.
Have been wondering the same thing! Found an absolutely gorgeous and amazing quality sari, but have been wanting to rework into something else. It's a gorgeous piece and wearing it as is would look out of place (I have the look like the epitome of a standard European though that isn't ethnically true). I have such an appreciation for the beauty of other cultures and wouldn't want to cause issues
Better for you to wear it than for it to sit in a landfill.
I think this is how wrap skirts were invented! A skirt, simple vest, anything really. I am going over the top this time and doing lot of layers. Handkerchief hem. So excited. Just looking at the fabrics brings me so much joy.
Same! The materials and designs are so so pretty. I want to remove the sleeves on mine and square the neckline, put like chiffon white bishop sleeves...make the style a little more like a milk maid dress I guess you could say?
I hope you post a photo of this when you are done because I am so intrigued. Saris really are beautiful pieces of artwork.
It may take a while, but I'll eventually get to it 😅
An old friend of mine was East Indian. She wore the same saris over and over again, unless it was a special occasion.
Nice! It was probably nicer fabric/ the real deal. These are definitely synthetic fabrics.
As long as you are really changing the item so it’s not associated with the original context. Nobody wants the clothes they actually wear being used for white people fantasy larping goofy time. People may find it to be disrespectful anyway. I would ask why you wouldn’t just use the same textiles or fabrics and repurpose them that way but I doubt anyone will stop you.
Oh. And the way is because that what is available and affordable from the bins. Buying even plain fabric new is way way expensive. These are sold out of filthy bins by the pound and some are being sent straight to a landfill eventually. I have been an avid recycler my whole life. I prefer making things from discarded items.
Totally understandable. I will definitely be changing it up quite a bit and creating a complete fantasy character. I have a lot of Scandinavian DNA so I’m creating a Nordic shaman vibe, but like from a fairy realm. Lots of fairy stories from my ancestors.
And one last thing. Lots of people of color are also at these events. Larping is not just for white people.
Ok. Good Luck :)
Intergenerarional conflict. Lots of younger girls won't want 10 sarees. They may keep 4 or 5. The mom can't take it back to India because limited baggage space. What is the solution? Just donate it. The problem is that the south Asian community doesn't like to shop for fancy party clothes at the thrift stores since they can "get caught" meaning the designs and dresses are so unique that the whole community would know who was the previous owner. I usually sell mine online but again that is a hassle. I do wish I was lucky to find sarees in the bins. But you go ahead and make whatever you want with it. Some of the fabric is so nice. Though polyster has made its way to Indian clothes too.