Bunko Junko – Transforming Fashion, Embracing Sustainability
Bunko Junko is a women-led Indian start-up that transforms industrial fabric scraps – typically considered waste – into unique fashion products such as clothing, decorative items, and gifts. Their production process is guided by a strict “zero-waste policy”, ensuring that every piece of material is reused or repurposed.
Avoiding chemical dyes and water, Bunko Junko relies on manual, low-energy techniques like patchwork, embroidery, and traditional weaving. This not only preserves artisanal skills but also significantly reduces the company’s carbon footprint. Beyond sustainability, Bunko Junko creates meaningful social impact by empowering women from marginalized communities through education and employment opportunities, fostering financial independence. The organization also runs workshops, awareness programs, and digital campaigns to promote responsible consumer behaviour.
For these reasons, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) presented Bunko Junko as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for August 2025.
Bunko Junko collaborates with textile mills, garment factories, and brands to collect fabric scraps and waste materials. They then design and develop stylish, high-quality fabrics that creatively accommodate the irregular shapes and patterns of these scraps – resulting in truly one-of-a-kind pieces, each distinct from the next. Their production process features multi-layer fabric patching, a method that maintains the structural integrity of the original materials without relying on chemical adhesives or treatments.
As India’s first textile upcycling manufacturer registered with the Ministry of Textiles, the company is taking a significant step toward transforming the industry and promoting a more circular fashion economy.
The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in August 2025 is currently told by the ISC3 on its website at Start-up Bunko Junko (isc3.org).
Three questions for Bhavini Parikh (Founder & CEO of Bunko Junko):
What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?
Bhavini Parikh: There wasn’t one big “aha!” moment it was more like a thousand tiny cuts. But one moment hit me hard: I visited a factory and saw a mountain of beautiful fabric scraps labelled waste. It was art, just abandoned, being dumped and burned, while artisans and women were looking for meaningful livelihood opportunities. That’s when I knew I couldn’t walk away from this. I had to create something that saved both the fabric and the people.
What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?
B. Parikh: Being recognized as an ISC3 Start-up of the Month is massive! It’s validation that sustainable fashion isn’t just ‘niche’ – it’s the future.
We’re grateful to ISC3 not just for choosing us as Start-up of the Month but for fully believing in us. We proudly crafted the ISC3 Trophy and Lanyards using upcycled textile waste, how cool is that? ISC3 also supported us by providing a stall space at the Sustainable Chemistry Exhibition in Mumbai, giving us a platform to showcase our impact and innovation. Thank you, ISC3, for amplifying our story and walking this circular journey with us!
What’s next up at Bunko Junko?
B. Parikh: Looking ahead, Bunko Junko aims to develop a tech-enabled traceability system that will allow textile scraps to be tracked from source to final product. Our plans also include expanding into global markets through localized circular hubs and innovating eco-friendly packaging solutions that align with our mission.
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