texfash.com: You are a fairly new/young organisation. How did it all start? How difficult/easy was it to put everything into shape? How were you funded when you started?
Nil Karul: As the founder of Reppatch, I’ve always had a habit of cutting, sewing, and creatively repurposing my old clothes to make them last longer. However, I only later discovered that what I had been doing was actually called "upcycling." When I realised this, I felt a sense of responsibility to share this practice with others—both those who, like me, were unknowingly engaging in upcycling and those who might adopt it if they learned about its benefits. This realisation sparked the idea for Reppatch.
The defining moment that solidified my decision came when I attended a major sustainability event in Istanbul, focused on the textile industry. Despite being the second-largest polluting industry globally, none of the industry leaders at the event even mentioned upcycling. It struck me as a huge oversight, and I decided to take action. The very next day, I resigned from my job and officially founded Reppatch.
Getting everything up and running, however, has been an entirely different challenge. Upcycling is still a relatively unknown concept worldwide. Beyond India, there are hardly any regulations or legal frameworks supporting it. As a result, we constantly face new obstacles, both in terms of raising awareness and establishing its place within society and industries. Nevertheless, we believe in the power of collective action. As a community, we work tirelessly every day to overcome these challenges and promote upcycling.
As for funding, I have personally provided the initial capital to get Reppatch off the ground.
You advocate "slow production." But the term means different things to different people. What does it mean for you? How exactly do you go about propagating that concept?
Nil Karul: We strongly advocate for slow production, which we define as valuing quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability over speed. To give you some context: In the early 2000s, most fashion brands released 2-4 collections annually (spring/summer and fall/winter). However, today, fast fashion brands like Zara and H&M release between 12 and 24 collections per year, with some brands adding new items to stores weekly. This shift to constant production has fuelled overconsumption and waste.
Slow production, for us, means prioritising the consumer’s needs by offering high-quality, durable products made with care. It’s the opposite of today’s fast fashion industry, which relies on cheap materials, outsourced labour in developing countries, and unethical practices like child labour—all in the name of cutting costs and increasing speed. But this rapid cycle begs the question: where do all these low-quality, short-lived items end up? The answer is landfills, with the textile industry contributing to 92 million tonnes of waste annually.
We aim to challenge this norm. Slow production invites brands to rethink their processes. For instance, they can repurpose production waste into unique, one-of-a-kind products, which not only increases value but also appeals to a growing audience of conscious consumers. Unfortunately, slow and thoughtful production is often perceived as less profitable, even though it can actually unlock new revenue streams and enhance a brand's reputation.
At Reppatch, we work closely with corporate partners to promote this philosophy. We encourage them to approach their operations with care and precision, as this often reveals untapped opportunities: waste transformation, innovative product lines, and even social impact initiatives. Slow production is not just about profitability; it’s about creating a more sustainable future for businesses, consumers, and the planet.
