Each second, the world disposes of or burns clothes equal to a truckload. This alarming statistic underscores the extreme environmental penalties of the quick vogue trade and our collective actions.

In 2019, a 13-year-old named Nirvaan Somany encountered one other staggering statistic that made him stand up, take discover and act. He learn a United Nations article which acknowledged that 10,000 litres of water are wanted to supply a single pair of denims.

Have you learnt how a lot water that’s?

To place this into perspective, take into account that city areas, as really helpful by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, ought to obtain 135 litres of water per particular person per day, whereas rural households ought to get 55 litres per particular person per day. On common, if a person consumes roughly 100 litres day by day, the water used to make one pair of denims equals the quantity one particular person in India makes use of over 100 days in city areas or nearly 180 days in rural areas.

In essence, one pair of denims utilises the water wanted by one particular person in rural India for almost six months!

Upon studying this, {the teenager} promptly opened his closet and realised he had a lifetime provide of water neatly folded within the type of garments. The revelation shocked him, highlighting the profound environmental impression of clothes consumption.

This incident occurred through the winter season, because the Delhi resident noticed his household donating blankets to the underprivileged on the streets. Nirvaan recognised that blankets supplied solely a short-term answer and may not endure the tough winters within the nationwide capital.

To handle this, he determined to kill two birds with one stone: repurposing outdated denim to create sleeping baggage. This initiative not solely prevented denims from ending up in landfills but in addition supplied a sturdy and heat sleeping choice for the homeless throughout freezing winters.

Began in 2022, ‘Mission Denims — Blue To Inexperienced’ has distributed over 2,000 sleeping baggage throughout Delhi-NCR, Himachal, Bengaluru, Pune, and even Turkey and Syria by recycling over 12,000 denims previously two years.

A heat hug on chilly winter nights

Mission Denims first started as a enterprise pitch by a 17-year-old on the Younger Entrepreneurs Academy. His proposal concerned crafting sleeping baggage from outdated denims, and the thought acquired constructive suggestions. The inspiration for these sleeping baggage got here to him after experiencing the consolation of 1 throughout a camp, which helped him perceive the practicality of the thought.

Why did he consider denims to make sleeping baggage?

“Denim has excellent insulation properties, and it’s robust and lasts lengthy. It’s utilized in the US and different international locations to make insulation panels. On additional analysis, I discovered that denim could be a way more rugged and long-term answer to battle the tough winters. Blankets aren’t a whole and efficient answer. I needed to make one thing that may be slept on,” Nirvaan tells The Higher India.

Buoyed by the response to his pitch on the YA, {the teenager} determined to work on making his concept a actuality. He had prepared entry to an knowledgeable at dwelling — his mom Shivani who runs a clothes enterprise.

Nirvaan pulled out his sleeping bag, opened it up and labored together with his mom on how they may make an ideal one utilizing outdated denim. They used the denims that they had at dwelling and began experimenting with prototypes.

“We began chopping the denims in numerous sizes and lengths to know what would work. We took assist from our tailors to stitch it. The primary one was just a little small. Each time we created a prototype, we in contrast it to the sleeping bag we had at dwelling to attain the same stage of consolation,” says his mom, Shivani Somany.

4 prototypes and one month later, the mother-son duo had cracked the code to sew an ideal denim sleeping bag.

A Class 12 pupil on the Shri Ram Faculty, Moulsari, Nirvaan began asking his family and friends to donate their outdated denims and began making sleeping baggage utilizing them. After making the baggage, he slept on his porch throughout a winter night time to examine how comfy they have been.

Nirvaan initiated assortment drives utilizing WhatsApp and later created an Instagram web page. Initially, with solely three donors, information about his initiative unfold, and other people from numerous components of the nation expressed curiosity in contributing.

To develop his attain, he established assortment centres in cities comparable to Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune. Nirvaan collaborated with corporates by their CSR initiatives for funding and related with particular person donors. He partnered with the Robinhood Military for bag distribution and collaborated with faculties, schools, hospitals, and firms to organise assortment drives and facilitate donations.

Recycling outdated denims to offer cowl

Explaining the method of sewing a sleeping bag, Nirvaan says one sleeping bag wants seven outdated denims.

First, the denims are cleaned and washed. Then, the belt and zip portion of the denims are minimize. The legs are minimize into lengthy strips and sewn collectively. Then a fabric lining is added inside for consolation together with a foam layer for insulation. The liner is stuffed utilizing material scraps from Shivani’s boutique.

In the present day, Mission Denims employs 15 native girls, together with wives of tailors from Shivani’s unit and others from Rajokri village in New Delhi. Every bag prices Rs 800 to make, which incorporates Rs 500 labour price, Rs 250 for the froth, Rs 25 for the zip and Rs 25 for different overheads.

Nirvaan says that they’ve distributed 2,000 baggage to this point. Additionally they despatched 200 sleeping baggage to Turkey and Syria in 2023 for these impacted by the earthquake.

“We’ve repurposed over 120 million litres of water, which might have been required to make these baggage in any other case. We’re saving 70,000 litres of water per bag,” he provides.

Discussing the carbon emissions within the life cycle of denims, he mentions that it takes 33.4 kg to supply one pair. He proudly states, “We’ve repurposed over 4 lakh kg of carbon emissions.”

Nirvaan spreads environmental consciousness by his month-to-month publication, Environotes. Launched in 2022, he has distributed 6,000 copies to Authorities faculty youngsters within the nationwide capital. Moreover, he conducts consciousness periods in instructional establishments and firms, shedding gentle on the environmental impression of the style trade.

“In faculties, we be taught in regards to the dangerous results of firecrackers, vehicles and planes. Surprisingly, the carbon emissions from the style trade surpass these of your entire journey trade. Regardless of this, vogue air pollution usually goes unnoticed. My purpose is to boost consciousness and educate folks about this challenge,” he says.

Nirvaan received the Diana Award in 2023, established in reminiscence of Diana, Princess of Wales, for his social motion. Presently, he’s planning to pursue an undergraduate diploma in sustainability whereas persevering with his work with Mission Denims, hoping that no denim leads to landfills.

“Each youngster on this planet deserves entry to scrub water, clear air and a heat mattress to sleep in. We will all do our half to make this a actuality by making aware selections as shoppers. Make knowledgeable selections earlier than buying and disposing of any piece of clothes. Don’t throw any piece of clothes, as an alternative donate it to organisations who donate or upcycle them,” he shares.

Be a part of Nirvaan’s mission by offering heat to a number of individuals this winter. Donate right here:

You may attain out to Nirvaan by his web site or Instagram web page.

Edited by Pranita Bhat