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Some things are worth making. Some are worth saving.
A worn edge, a broken zip, a sole that has given up — most of it gets replaced rather than repaired. That is fashion waste, and reducing it is the reason we exist. Every piece we bring back is one that does not become rubbish, and one that nothing new had to be made to replace.
We know how because we spent ten years making them. The Upcycle Story grew out of Vdesi India, a handbag and accessories business — which is why we can take a piece apart and put it back properly.
making handbags
Oshiwara workshop
Europe, US
from our workshop
This didn’t begin with a business plan.
It didn’t begin as a separate business idea. It began with customers coming back to us.
“Ye chipka do, woh sil do, please.”
A handle had broken. A lining needed changing. An edge had peeled. A bag had been damaged during cleaning. A shoe needed fixing.
We repaired these pieces for our own customers because we knew how they were made and how they could be fixed.
Papa asked a simple question.
“Why don’t you do something green?”
For years we had seen how much gets discarded simply because it is worn, damaged or no longer looks new. But for a handbag maker, the answer is not necessarily another “eco” product.
We knew materials, makers and mistakes.
- We knew materials.
- We knew construction.
- We knew artisans.
- We knew why products failed.
- And how many could be repaired.
With just us, we wouldn’t make a difference.
Restoring only our own products would keep the impact small, so we began accepting other brands too.
If restoring an item costs more than it is worth, it may not be the right solution.
That shaped our focus on premium and luxury products.
It started with bags. The rest followed.
Handbags gave us deep expertise in stitching, pasting and finishing. We already understood leather, PU, PVC and other synthetic leathers. Shoes, sofas and car seats are made of the same materials, so restoring them came naturally.
And the journey is still evolving.
Can what already exists be made useful again?
So instead of only making something new, we began asking it, and slowly the answer became our work.
In many ways, she has spent the last decade eating, sleeping and breathing bags.
Through Vdesi India, Priyam has spent years working closely with materials, manufacturing, product construction, artisans, customer feedback, quality issues and after-sales service. That understanding became one of the strongest foundations for The Upcycle Story.
For her, restoration is not simply about making an item look better. It begins with how the product was constructed, what has gone wrong, what can realistically be repaired and what will make sense for the customer.
It started with bags. It didn’t stop there.
Our services now include everything from cleaning and recolouring to lining replacement, stitching, hardware work, part replacement, material change, reconstruction, protection and personalisation.
Built in Mumbai. Serving India & the world.
What restoration means to us.
For us, sustainability is not about making another product and calling it green.
Repair before replace
Wear and damage do not always mean the end of a product.
Restore what is worth keeping
Not everything should be repaired at any cost. The right solution should make sense for the item and the customer.
Craft still matters
Technology makes estimates, tracking and communication easier. Restoration still depends on skilled hands and material knowledge.
Use what exists for longer
It is about helping existing products stay useful for longer.
Some things deserve a longer story.
© The Upcycle Story · Operated by XMISS, a proprietorship of Priyam Gangrade.