Where Innovation Begins: Redefining Waste

For Ashita Singhal, waste has never been the end of a story—it’s where innovation begins. While studying fashion design, Ashita was struck by the sheer volume of fabric scraps discarded in the production process. Watching these materials—full of potential—swept aside sparked the idea that would become Paiwand. What started as a student project has grown into a thriving design studio in Noida, India, known as a major center for fast fashion production, making a significant contribution to global textile waste.

“Paiwand Lagana,” a phrase in Hindi that means patching or mending, reflects the studio’s ethos of repairing not just fabric but the relationship between fast fashion and the planet. Ashita’s work blends heritage techniques, such as Aari embroidery from Delhi and Kantha stitching from Bengal, with modern ingenuity. By threading waste fabric strips into these time-honored practices, Paiwand creates something entirely new—designs that honor the past while addressing the urgent need for sustainability today.

Beyond design, Paiwand has become a space for learning and collaboration. Many team members, like Dinesh, a young weaver, have trained in-house and are now passing on their knowledge to others. Together, they’ve upcycled over 30,000 kilograms of fabric, saving millions of liters of water and proving that fashion can be ethical without losing its soul. Paiwand’s presence in the industrial hub of Noida is a reminder that even in the heart of mass production, there’s room for care, creativity, and change.