A survey by the World Economic Forum found that globally the fashion apparel industry generates 10 percent of human-induced carbon emissions, parches water sources, and contaminates rivers and streams. As the world is under the spell of fast fashion, the future of our planet’s health is at grave risk.
Meanwhile, we aren’t new to the fact of how single-use plastic has been taxing the environment. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to a few brilliant minds who are innovating solutions by setting up dedicated companies that turn plastic into fabric. UNIREC needs a special mention in the realm of fashion from recycled plastic fabric in India.
In an interaction with LifeBeyondNumbers, UNIREC founder Kapil Bhatia shared that the idea of starting his unique business was driven by the commitment to offer customer-solution-first. Disseminating further about how he become one of the pioneers of recycled plastic clothing manufacturers in India, Kapil informs,
“We were participating at a B2B exhibition in 2019, where one of our customers approached us asking if we could manufacture shirts, blazers and trousers from plastic waste. It sounded interesting. However, by the time we decided to make a clothing line with fabric from recycled pet bottles, did our research on the product and made it available for production, the Covid-19 pandemic was upon us.”
It was a huge setback and forced him to keep the new venture on the back burner. Taking a pragmatic stance on it, he and his team focused on launching the brand only in 2021.
There is a story behind the name UNIREC. Kapil narrates and says that they have been in the business of uniforms for more than 15 years now.
“When we were pondering with names ‘Uni Rec’ emerged as the perfect blend of Uniforms made from Recycled fabrics. It also means unique/universal garments made from recycled fabrics, which is why we narrowed down on this name.”
Kapil has had a fascinating journey so far. His education and profession are polar opposites. He is a chartered accountant, and his primary focus and passion are to generate sales. He hails from a family which has established its repute in the garment business for more than 60 years now. Kapil says that his grandfather was one of the first merchants to sell readymade shirts in India. Thus, he can proudly say that they are one of the oldest existing garment brands in the country. Naturally, entrepreneurship is in his DNA.
UNIREC was born out of his pledge and objective to reduce carbon emissions, one person at a time, one garment at a time. The USP lies in its mission.
“The fact that we are giving the solution that works on the ethos: every individual can contribute to the environment in their own small way. It makes us unique. A single product from UNIREC helps in recycling 7-12 pet bottles and reduces carbon emissions by over 2 kgs.”
Also, read: This Young Entrepreneur Upcycles Scrap Tyres To Make Sustainable And Fashionable Footwear
Kapil simplifies the calculation for a layman to understand. Every time a person uses a product made from recycled fabrics, the carbon emissions used to manufacture the same goes down by at least 30%. Currently, the carbon emissions to manufacture a poly-cotton shirt are almost 6kg whereas, for polyester T-shirts, it’s far higher. Thus, a 30% reduction would mean saving at least 2 kgs of carbon emissions per garment.
That’s a significant achievement. Isn’t it? But does an Indian consumer accept recycled materials for clothing in their wardrobe? Kapil throws light on it:
“The biggest challenges we face is making the consumers understand that product is as safe to wear just like their regular clothing.”
Apart from making garments from recycled plastic, UNIREC also ensures following a few other eco-friendly measures. Packaging is a key element for any brand. To make it presentable, it uses paper packaging. Even the tags used on the label are made from plantable seed paper.
At present, the clothing line has workwear, uniforms (for brands and corporates), jackets, trousers and T-shirts made from recycled plastic. Soon it’s going to start an exclusive collection of shirts made from recycled plastic fabrics. Within two months, UNIREC will be launching its women’s collection too. While being environment-friendly, the brand doesn’t compromise on the style quotient.
Also, read: This Is How India’s First Zero-Waste And Sustainable Chocolate Is Conserving The Planet
How can an individual and a company do their bit towards environmental conservation by embracing UNIREC? Kapil has convincing answers:
“Every individual or corporate spends on buying clothes for themselves or their teams. The least they can do is to switch to garments made from recycled fabrics. Such apparel will enhance their fashion sense, while will also ensure that they are doing their bit to preserve the environment and reduce the impact of climate change.”
Often, the majority of Indian consumers are price sensitive. And, sustainable clothing in India doesn’t seem pocket-friendly to many. In such a scenario, how does UNIREC cap the pricing? The founder informs that cost for this product is about 15-20% higher than normal ones. Gradually, it will come down. However, he observes that pricing is so much of a challenge as is consumer awareness about the product.
“We aim to be the first brand completely ‘Made in India’, which ensures that every Indian is playing their part in reducing the impact of climate change. One must remember that we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Please do whatever you can to make this a better world.”
Currently, UNIREC is a D2C brand catering to corporates. There are well-chalked-out plans to mark its presence pan India and eventually go global. The road ahead looks streamlined. For the next year, Kapil aims to make UNIREC India’s first brand to produce garments from recycled pet bottles through e-comm platforms and the brand’s website. The label is already receiving incredible responses from corporates for this.