Priyanka Omvedt

Indian fashion entrepreneur revolutionizing sustainable fashion through upcycled waste materials

Priyanka Omvedt is transforming India's fashion industry through her brand Dharavi Fashion, which converts industrial waste into high-fashion garments. Born in Mumbai's Dharavi slum, she combines her MIT engineering degree with traditional craftsmanship to create luxury pieces from discarded materials like plastic waste, textile scraps, and construction debris.

Her breakthrough came in 2021 with the Urban Waste Collection, a runway show featuring garments made from 100% recycled materials. This attracted international attention, including a feature in Vogue India and collaborations with luxury brands like Gucci. Each collection addresses specific environmental challenges: the 2023 Plastic Ocean series used marine plastic waste from Mumbai's beaches, while the Construction Series repurposed demolition debris from real estate projects.

Omvedt's business model creates triple impact: providing employment to 150+ marginalized artisans, diverting 8 tons of waste monthly from landfills, and raising awareness about circular fashion. Her TED Talk "Waste is a Human Right Violation" has sparked policy changes in Maharashtra's waste management laws. In 2024, she launched the Waste to Wear education program, teaching 5,000+ students annually about sustainable design principles.

Her most ambitious project, the Zero Waste Fashion District in Dharavi, combines manufacturing facilities with recycling hubs and design studios. This ecosystem has reduced local landfill use by 40% while elevating Dharavi's global reputation as a center for ethical fashion. Omvedt's work bridges socioeconomic divides by making sustainability both aspirational and accessible, proving that fashion can be both profitable and planet-positive.