Sometimes, the most meaningful things begin with an imperfection.
Back in 2023, we launched Kebaya Reimagined—a one-off printed piece inspired by heritage, thoughtfully reinterpreted for modern everyday wear. The Wrap Dress was made using 100% linen, beautifully printed in India before making its journey to our studio in Singapore, where it was carefully sewn by hand. This design sold out.
Upon inspection before sewing, there was a tear on the print. The whole fabric couldn't be used and we had to reprint it for the perfect dress you see in this post.
It wasn't large enough to affect the beauty of the print, but it meant that fabric could no longer become the garment it was originally intended to be. Like many fashion brands, we could have simply discarded it.
Instead, we chose a different path.
Three years later, that very same limited fabric has found a new purpose.
The scrunchie you're holding today once belonged to our 2023 Kebaya Re-imagined collection. What could have become textile waste has been transformed into something that can be worn, loved and used every day.
It may seem like a small accessory, but to us, it represents something much bigger—that beautiful things don't have to be perfect to be valuable, and that sustainability often begins with small, thoughtful decisions.
This year, these upcycled scrunchies are being gifted to educators in celebration of Teachers' Day.
We couldn't think of a more meaningful home for them.
Teachers dedicate countless hours shaping young minds, encouraging curiosity, building confidence and inspiring future generations. In many ways, upcycling and education share the same belief: seeing potential where others might not. Giving something—or someone—a chance to grow into something wonderful.
By receiving this scrunchie, you're also becoming part of its story.
Your support helps keep perfectly good fabric out of landfills, reduces unnecessary textile waste, and reminds us that every small choice can create a positive impact on the environment. While one scrunchie alone may seem insignificant, together they represent a future where materials are valued, creativity replaces waste, and sustainability becomes part of our everyday lives.
More importantly, you're helping prove that thoughtful fashion has a place in our community.
To every educator receiving one of these scrunchies, thank you.
Thank you for the difference you make every single day. Thank you for nurturing kindness, resilience and confidence in the next generation. We hope this little keepsake serves as a reminder that your work creates ripple effects far beyond the classroom—just as one small piece of fabric can begin a whole new journey.
Thank you for being part of our upcycling project.
Because of people like you, this fabric was given a second chance.
And perhaps, that's one of the most beautiful stories it could ever tell.
A Small Teachers’ Day Thank You
Teachers spend so much of their time helping others learn, grow and see things differently. We thought it was particularly meaningful for your Teachers’ Day gift to carry a little lesson of its own.
By accepting and using this upcycled piece, you’re helping us keep existing fabric in use for longer.
So, thank you.
Thank you for giving something old another chance. Thank you for being part of our little effort to reduce unnecessary textile waste. And thank you for allowing a piece of Salient Label’s past to become part of your everyday life.
And if scrunchies simply aren’t your thing, please don’t feel that you have to keep it tucked away in a drawer.
Pass it on.
Give it to a colleague, a friend, a sister, or someone who will wear it. To us, that would be far more meaningful than letting it sit unused.
Because perhaps the most sustainable piece isn’t always something new.
Sometimes, it’s simply something we already have — given a new purpose.
Happy Teachers’ Day, from K Sisters x Salient Label.
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