Use Me Works: Turning Fabric Waste into Beauty, One Handmade Stitch at a Time
By Fridaywall Editorial
At the bustling Dastkar Hyderabad Bazaar, one stall stood out—not just for its colour-soaked display of hangings, buntings, pouches and bags, but for its philosophy. Use Me Works, a Delhi-based sustainable lifestyle brand, doesn’t just sell products—it sells a new way of looking at waste.
What People Call Trash, Use Me Works Calls Possibility
“Our brand was inspired by a dustbin,*” says Sushant, the designer manning the stall in Hyderabad.
“What people discard, we transform into something beautiful.”
Founded nearly 15 years ago by Meenakshi Sharma, Use Me Works began as a college passion project, driven by curiosity about fabric waste and a belief that design could serve the planet. Today, it has become a model for *lupcycling-based livelihood creation.
Saving 600–700 kg of Fabric Waste Every Month
The numbers are telling. Instead of watching unused factory scraps get dumped or burnt, Use Me Works intervenes at the source, collects the fabric, and channels it into products that last.
The result?
– 600–700 kilos of waste saved monthly
– 20 indigenous women artisans earning dignified livelihoods
– A growing catalogue built on creativity, community and circular economy values
Women at the Centre of Craft and Change
“Everything is handmade,*” Sushant says, clarifying a common misconception.
Handmade doesn’t always mean needle and thread alone—it means skilled hands, machines operated manually, legs and arms coordinating to bring fabric back to life.
“We believe everyone has talent—give them support and they create magic,” he smiles.
These women artisans from across Delhi stitch, quilt, embroider, assemble—and increasingly, influence design.
Where Sustainability Meets Aesthetic Appeal
Their range extends into:
✔ Home décor: wall hangings, door drops
✔ Celebration accessories: birthday buntings, Diwali and Christmas décor
✔ Fashion accessories: scrunchies, purses, laptop bags, wallets, keychains, cutlery rolls and more
A special highlight is their Sashiko wallets, inspired by Japanese running-stitch embroidery—an example of how global craft vocabularies are reinterpreted through Indian artisan hands.
A Brand That Invites the World to Participate
In a rare move, Use Me Works encourages customers to give them unused fabric from home—curtains, clothing, yardage sitting forgotten—so it can be refashioned into products they can use again.
It turns waste disposal into personal contribution.
### **Built on Design—with Heart**
Sushant himself embodies the brand’s creative DNA—a fine arts graduate and fashion designer, he handles design, stalls, and exhibitions from Bengaluru, while the core team works out of Delhi.
“I love blending art and fashion. That’s what this brand lets me do.”
15 Years On, Still Growing With Purpose
From a college project to a 35-member team, Use Me Works has sustained itself ethically, financially and creatively—keeping pace with demand without diluting philosophy.
“We are here because the environment needs us,” Sushant says simply.
Where to Find Them
Instagram: @usemeworks
Website: www.usemeworks.com
