Button Masala: eco-friendly & sustainable Fashion
I was the lucky winner of a Button Masala Workshop in Munich. Now probably your first question will be what in the world is Button Masala? Well I had no idea in the beginning as well so I did some research. The art of Button Masala is to make functional clothing out of fabric, buttons and rubber bands. It sounds strange but once you’ve seen what you can create with this special technique you probably will be as amazed as I was. The beauty of it is, that it’s very simple to learn and cheap to produce. After my first ever fabric DIY, remember the headband I made out of an old T-Shirt?, I was so eager to learn more about this technique!
The inventor of Button Masala, indian Star Designer Anuj Sharma, is now traveling the world to teach others how it’s done so that more and more people are able to live in a more self catering way. Independent from corporations. The technique is so easy that he even teaches it to kids!
„Being simple is the most complex thing in the world“ – Anuj Sharma
All you need is a special kind of rubber band that doesn’t break after washing it. Also you will need thin plastic circles that are usually used for embroidery and whatever fabric you desire. But it should be a bit stretchy as it will be easier to wrap around the buttons.
How does Button Masala work?
Take the part of the fabric where you want the button to sit and place the button on the back of the fabric. Than you wrap the fabric around the button with the rubber band. The more often you wrap the rubber band around the button the tighter the button will sit. Two to three turns should be enough though.
You can make a lot of designs like this and if you want to connect two pieces of fabric you have to options to connect them. Either you wrap the second fabric around the first button you made and secure it with another rubber band or you make another button on the second fabric part and connect both buttons using a third rubber brand.
The tie dyed design is what I made during the workshop and I love how it turned out! What do you think?
„It’s the fastest way to make a garment.“ – Anuj Sharma
The sustainable revolution in this technique is that if you don’t like what you made you can just easily remove the buttons without damaging the fabric. The fabrics can be used again and again for new ideas. It’s possible to make multiple different designs with just one pieces of fabric in less than two hours.
If you are in Munich and want to try the unusual Button Masala technique for yourself you can get the materials at Albers Artwork. Also you can see when the next workshop days will be available.
I hope this technique should also be taught in our country, the Philippines. So that if we ran out of clothes to wear, we can just redesign it.
The designer is already visiting a lot of countries. I bet he will soon stop by. 🙂
hi
i will be happy to come to philippines. i dont know when though. if some one organises a workshop than its good. may be you can do it.
anuj
wow, that is honestly one of the most interesting posts I have ever read…it is so unique, I would never imagine that 🙂 and btw congratulations to you for winning 😀
Thank you Teresa! Yes the technique is very unique 🙂
What an unique and innovative idea. I’m really interested to visit the store and try out the outfits. The Tiedye outfit is beautiful!
Thank you! It’s very easy to do. You should check out the button masala Instagram page. It’s full of pretty cool designs!
Really interesting post! Definitely should check this place when in Munich! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Ilona. Glad you liked it!
I love this! Thanks for sharing this technique with us.
Now to put it into practice 😊
Thank you! Yes I want to make other designs as well now 🙂
Wow this is fantastic. We’re from India and we haven’t even heard of this concept. Thanks for sharing it with us,
Oh that’s so cool! Maybe you can get in contact with him 🙂 when I remember correctly he also gives workshops in India.
hi
you can check this page
https://www.facebook.com/buttonmasala/
This is very interesting! I like the idea and the name 🙂
Thank you Alex 🙂
This is just wonderful. And it seems so easy to do, like a perfect DIY. I will definitely like to try my hands on
Thank you Neha. It’s super easy. I was impressed by how quick you can make a design 🙂
Very cool. I think if I were to DIY it would be a lot of trial and error in figuring out which quality of rubber bands will work best. My washing machine is a beast on my clothes 🙁 But I love the designs – so cute.
these are polyurethane rubberbands. works perfectly fine in washing machine.
these rubberbands are often used by dentists for braces.
Hi everyone, It´s great to see all the nice comments on the workshop. For anyone who is near Munich come to the next Button Masala Workshop. It will be a lot of fun!
25.06.2017 Location SoHam, Glockenbach 11am or 4pm.
In 3 hours you will learn how to make garments without any needle and thread. 😉
Registration on http://www.albersartwork.de or via Mail post@albersartwork.de
Hi, Great work this Button Masala, I saw it an a expo few weeks a go.
I wonder how ‘eco friendly’ and sustainable are these buttons and rubber bands?
How long does these rubber bands lasts. Like it sounds their are made form plastic?
Hi Yela,
very good question. Honestly I don’t know as I jsut attended a workshop.
The bands are made from plastic and the buttons as well.