"Our artisans give it a second life"
This Diwali, the Bicester Collection has partnered with Mumbai-based circular fashion brand, I Was A Sari, to launch an exclusive collection of fashion and lifestyle products made from pre-loved saris.
The collection is part of The Bicester Collection’s DO GOOD philanthropic programme, which focuses on unlocking futures for women and children.
It will also continue into the luxury shopping destination’s wider Season of Giving, promoting purposeful gifting during the festive season.
The collection features contemporary pieces crafted from discarded saris, giving the colourful, patterned and embellished fabrics a new lease of life.
Products include statement bomber jackets, bags, jewellery, accessories, homeware and festive gifts, such as hand-embroidered ornaments.
Behind the collection is I Was A Sari’s work with women artisans in Mumbai, who transform pre-loved textiles into new products while developing their skills and creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves, their families and their communities.
Stefano Funari, CEO and Founder of I Was A Sari, said:
“Every sari that arrives in our workshop carries a life within it – worn at a wedding, passed between generations, loved and treasured until it finds us.
“Our artisans give it a second life, and in doing so, they build their own.
“To see these pieces travel from India to homes around the world is a beautiful reminder of what happens when craft, purpose and people come together.”
The collection is available through dedicated I was a Sari × DO GOOD pop-ups at Bicester Village in Oxfordshire and Fidenza Village in Italy.
The Bicester Village pop-up runs from October 29 to November 15.
Meanwhile, the Fidenza Village installation will continue from November until early January.
All profits from both pop-ups will support women and their communities locally and globally through I Was A Sari and The Bicester Collection’s DO GOOD Foundation.
Guests visiting the Collection’s European Villages can also discover the products through festive installations at concierge areas, with a dedicated digital look book providing another way to explore the range.
Chantal Khoueiry, Chief Culture Officer at The Bicester Collection, said:
“In I Was A Sari, we found a partner who turns our conviction to unlock futures into something you can treasure.”
“This season, every guest who chooses one of these unique pieces is choosing to give twice: to someone they love, and to someone they may never meet.
“That, to us, is the true thrill of being together.”
Through the partnership, The Bicester Collection and I Was A Sari aim to bring together festive gifting, circular fashion and social impact, offering shoppers the opportunity to celebrate Diwali while supporting the women whose craftsmanship gives discarded textiles a second life.
