Yi Launches Saree Donation Drive for Green Cause
The Young Indians (Yi) Visakhapatnam chapter has joined the nationwide ‘Saree to Sanchi’ campaign, inviting residents to donate pre-loved sarees that will be upcycled into eco-friendly drawstring bags for participants of the Kovalam Marathon 2026.
As part of the initiative, the chapter has launched a collection drive at Nua Boutique, Lawson’s Bay, where clean, gently used sarees can be donated until August 1. Organisers have encouraged people to contribute sarees that reflect the rich textile traditions of Andhra Pradesh and other regions.
The campaign, spearheaded by Young Indians under its Climate Change initiative in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), aims to reduce textile waste by promoting reuse and upcycling. Besides being transformed into reusable marathon bags, the donated sarees will also help create livelihood opportunities for artisans involved in the process.
The initiative also seeks to preserve the emotional and cultural value attached to sarees. Women leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, doctors, educators and public representatives have been urged to donate sarees with cherished memories, giving them a meaningful second life instead of letting them remain unused.
According to the organisers, every donated saree helps divert textile waste from landfills, lowers the carbon footprint associated with producing new fabric, supports sustainable livelihoods and encourages community participation in climate action. They have also appealed for donations of traditional handloom sarees, including Kanjivaram, Banarasi, Chanderi and Mysore silk weaves, to celebrate India’s rich textile heritage.
“The campaign is based on the belief that sustainability begins by extending the life of what already exists. Rather than discarding garments with sentimental value, families can give them a meaningful second life,” said Suchandra Parvataneni, Climate Change Chair of the Young Indians Visakhapatnam chapter.
Residents can donate their sarees at Nua Boutique, Lawson’s Bay, before August 1 to support the campaign and help turn cherished memories into a meaningful step towards sustainability.