Varshne B’s Chennai brand Crcle champions eco fabrics, textile waste

On the age of 13, Varshne B knew she needed to be a dressmaker. After graduating from NIFT Chennai in 2020, Varshne went on to work with manufacturers like Biskit and Capsul. “I grew to become more and more conscious of the quantity of waste the trade generates. I additionally observed the hole between consciously-crafted merchandise and modern, forward-thinking design. I needed to create a model that bridged that hole,” says the 26-year-old, who based Crcle in 2024. “The model’s identify is testomony to the ideology of closing the loop with our neighborhood,” says the Chennai-based designer, who’s amongst India’s three finalists at R|Elan Round Design Problem (CDC).

Learn extra |CDC finalist Farak is blending Indian craft with sustainable streetwear

Organised by Reliance Industries’ R|Elan (an initiative aimed toward selling sustainable and round style practices), in partnership with the United Nations in India and Lakmē Trend Week, CDC’s finals will probably be held at Lakmē Trend Week x FDCI this October. Crcle will compete with India finalists Golden Feathers, Farak, and Maximilian Raynor (UK), Martina Boero (Cavia, EU), and Jesica Pullo (BIOTICO, Asia Pacific). 

A “aware clothes and life-style model rooted in round design, innovation and craft”, Varshne’s model crafts gender-neutral T-shirts, shirts, shorts, jackets, and baggage. Supplies used embrace weganool (a biodegradable material created from calotropis plant fibres), banana leather-based, corozo buttons (crafted from the tagua nut), amongst others. “We additionally supply pre and put up shopper textiles, end-of-life textiles, deadstock materials, surplus trims, and so on from factories and recycling amenities throughout Tamil Nadu, and combine them into our collections,” says Varshne, who works with stainless-steel scraps and leather-based offcuts sourced from metallic fabrication models and leather-based factories in Chennai. Now, Varshne is increasing the model’s materials base to incorporate conventional handwoven supplies like kala cotton, khadi, and so on., and handcrafted particulars similar to crochet, pure dyeing, and embroidery.

Varshne B
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

On the CDC competitors, her assortment, Symbiosis, led her to the finals. “We think about a world the place innovation doesn’t work in opposition to Nature however works with it — utilizing methods and supplies that mirror Nature’s personal intelligence and circularity, whereas taking inspiration from the intricate textures and patterns present in pure types,” says Varshne. As an example, irregular patterns such because the ridges on tree trunks or bubbles in water have impressed their use of hand-done crochet patches and pintucks on materials, the movement of water has been translated into embroidery and floor particulars that mimic motion, and using crush tie-dye “captures the randomness of Nature. Like how algae or moss grows in patches or how lichen spreads inconsistently throughout stone,” says Varshne, including that Symbiosis contains shirts, trousers, jackets, skorts. One of many key highlights, she says, is a multifunctional T-shirt that may convert right into a bag.

An outfit from Crcle
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Varshne says Chennai’s “stunning distinction” additionally displays in her work. “Town is rooted in heritage however at all times evolving. That stability influences my design aesthetics too; I’m drawn to scrub types with considerate, handcrafted particulars, merging the outdated with the brand new. In Chennai, you’re continually conscious of the local weather — warmth, floods, water shortage — so conversations round assets, waste, and impression really feel very actual and rapid,” she explains. “For the finale, we’re constructing on this similar idea and the brand new capsule will probably be an extension of Symbiosis, taking the thought ahead with deeper exploration into supplies and design innovation.”  

The pure dyeing course of at Crcle
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

As for the unisex silhouettes, their design “additionally comes from a really private place”. “At the same time as a child, I used to be continually noticed in outsized T-shirts and shorts, typically borrowing garments from my dad’s and brother’s wardrobes. That comfort-first, no-label method to dressing has stayed with me,” says the designer whose newest launches embrace baggage made with stainless-steel and leather-based scraps.

Crcle crafts unisex outfits
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Subsequent, Varshne is venturing into the life-style house and will probably be launching coasters created from leather-based and stainless-steel scraps, and wallets from leather-based and textile scraps. “Ultimately, I wish to make furnishings, and different decor equipment utilizing round supplies and handcrafted methods,” she concludes.

Printed – July 31, 2025 02:20 pm IST