Pakistan
Asia
Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Gamburi
Project Overview
Gamburi-meaning "Flower" in a local language in northern Pakistan, is a women-led circular fashion venture that upcycles textile waste into high-quality, handcrafted fashion products. The project collects discarded fabric from thrift stores and textile waste spots in urban cities like Karachi and Lahore, transports it to Ghizer (Gilgit-Baltistan), and transforms it into fashionable tote bags and accessories.The production is done by trained local women artisans using traditional embroidery techniques such as Iraghi, Qalami, and Zardozi. Each product carries its story — detailing the artisan behind it, the cultural symbolism of the embroidery, and the environmental impact (such as how much textile waste was diverted).The goal of the project is to reduce textile waste, preserve cultural embroidery heritage, and create sustainable income opportunities for economically excluded women.
Project Impact
The project created meaningful economic and skill-building opportunities for 30 rural women artisans by equipping them with improved embroidery, quality control, and design skills aligned with market needs. It advanced sustainable practices through the use of upcycled textiles and established reliable sourcing partnerships. By building early market visibility and incorporating customer feedback, the initiative strengthened pathways for income generation, entrepreneurship, and long-term scalability through a community-driven, environmentally conscious startup model.
Millennium Fellows Involved
Irrum Sherbaz , Saeeda Perveen , Muskan Zahid , Ranai Faisal.
