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Singapore fashion label The Dori turns old saris into unique shirts
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Singapore fashion label The Dori turns old saris into unique shirts

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Digital creator Rishabh Sharma transformed his mother's sari into a shirt, sparking interest on social media.
  • He launched The Dori, a fashion label creating unisex shirts from donated saris, to fill a gap in the market.
  • The label's debut collection sold two-thirds of its shirts on launch day, indicating strong demand for unique, heritage-infused garments.

What began as a personal experiment in January 2025 has blossomed into a unique fashion label, The Dori, founded by digital creator Rishabh Sharma. After documenting his process of turning his mother's sari into a shirt on Instagram and TikTok, Sharma was inundated with requests from people eager to acquire similar garments. This overwhelming response revealed a market gap: while many brands were repurposing saris, they predominantly focused on women's wear.

Sharma, driven by a desire to make these rich textiles accessible to everyone, decided to fill this void. "The fabric had so much story in it already. There was no reason men should miss out on that craft," he stated. He observed that many saris, often worn only for special occasions like weddings or prayer sessions, ended up unused in closets. The Dori aims to give these garments a new life, offering unisex and androgynous designs that connect wearers with the heritage woven into each thread.

The fabric had so much story in it already. There was no reason men should miss out on that craft.

— Rishabh SharmaSharma explains his motivation for creating unisex garments from saris.

Co-founded with childhood friends Ajinkya Kulkarni and Laavanya Kejriwal, The Dori, whose name means 'thread' in Hindi, launched its first collection, "New Beginnings," on July 19. The collection featured 45 one-of-a-kind shirts crafted from donated saris. The launch event, held at a creative hub in Singapore, was a resounding success, attracting nearly 200 attendees and selling two-thirds of the collection by the end of the day, priced between S$125 and S$190.

Sharma, who describes his own past style as unpretentious, found his passion for fashion and self-expression during national service. The Dori represents a significant step in his fashion journey, allowing him to blend his love for unique garments with a deep connection to his heritage. The label's success highlights a growing appreciation for sustainable fashion and culturally resonant clothing.

Embarking on this project has allowed me to connect with my heritage more than ever before.

— Rishabh SharmaSharma reflects on the personal significance of The Dori project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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