Student Name
Aksheya Gupta
Studio
Positioning Practice
Faculty
Swati Maskeri
This project explored how traditional craft practices can adapt to circular design philosophies such as Cradle to Cradle and the Circular Economy. Rooted in research on end-of-life textiles, I examined Indian upcycling methods like rafugari and Kantha, which revealed sustainable alternatives embedded in cultural practices. Working with rags on a handloom highlighted the unpredictability of discarded materials — each thread behaved differently, prompting constant adaptation. The handloom became both a challenge and a collaborator, shaping the architecture of my final woven piece. Layered media explorations, life cycle assessments, and hands-on making helped me rethink material value and consumption. The process required balancing exploration with structure — dissecting methods, distilling insights, and working within limitations. In the end, this project became a tactile response to overconsumption — one that honoured both the material’s past life and its potential to be reborn through design.




