2.16 million tons of denim jeans are wasted globally each year
(Luiken and Bouwhuis)
By 2030, the world will throw away 148 million tons of clothing annually
(Global Fashion Agenda)
We Are non
profit charity World organization
The Upcycling Lab is Chakraviu Nepal’s dedicated space for developing circular solutions that reduce waste, strengthen communities, and support children’s learning.
- From urban waste to rural hope
Duality of
Problem
- Students in rural public schools have limited access to basic resources for quality education like school bags
- Urban areas of Nepal have high volume of textile waste dumped to landfill everyday, pollution air, soil and water
This is our flagship initiative that collects old jeans from urban communities and upcycles them into school kits for students in rural Nepal, increasing access to quality education, promoting sustainability, and empowering community. By combining waste reduction, livelihood generation, and improved educational access, the initiative advances environmental sustainability and promotes inclusive, equitable development.
- One initiative. Three transformations.
TRI-FOLD IMPACT
EDUCATION: By upcycling old denim into school bags and stationery supplies, this project directly contributes to quality education for students in rural Nepal.The upcycled school kits are durable and sustainable.
ENVIRONMENT: Every pair of upcycled bag represents:
- Extending the life of resource-intensive denim, preventing it from becoming landfill waste
- 30,000 liters of embedded water repurposed
- 113.6 kg of new CO₂e prevented
- A zero waste model
- Environmental awareness imparted to denim consumers
EMPOWERMENT: This project supports local employment, trains low-income individuals with upcycling training. Each step of the upcycling process is done locally in Nepal. Every product is locally made.
Levi's estimates that a pair of their jeans emits 33.4 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere, the equivalent of driving more than 1,000 kilometers in a car.
- A bag that carries more than books
What school Bags ?
A school bag is a basic educational necessity that directly affects a child’s ability to participate in learning with confidence and consistency. It is an essential part of a child’s daily school life, quietly shaping how they arrive, learn, and return home each day.
For many students in rural public schools, the walk to school is long and physically demanding, often along difficult roads and uneven paths. While we may not be able to shorten these distances or change the terrain they must cross, we hope that a strong, well-made school bag can make that journey a little more comfortable. Carrying books securely and evenly can ease the physical burden and allow children to begin their school day with greater ease.
A proper school bag also protects learning materials from rain, dust, and wear. When notebooks and stationery last longer and remain intact, children are less likely to miss lessons or fall behind. Over time, these small practical supports help build consistency and confidence in learning.
Within the context of the Upcycling Lab, a school bag also serves as a practical introduction to environmental responsibility. Made from reclaimed denim, these bags demonstrate how everyday materials can be reused thoughtfully and responsibly. Students learn that sustainability is not only a global issue but something that can be practiced in daily life.
A school bag also carries social value. It supports dignity, reduces visible inequality in the classroom, and reassures children that their education is valued. Through this essential item, the Upcycling Lab connects education, environmental awareness, and community care in a way that is tangible and meaningful for students.
Above all, a school bag represents care. It tells children that their education matters and that people beyond their classroom are thinking about their daily realities. In this way, something simple becomes deeply human, supporting not only learning, but dignity and belonging.
Our upcycled school kits are 100% handmade, 100% reclaimed, and 100% community-powered.
A Circular System
The Upcycling Lab applies a strict 100% material-utilization approach to every pair of donated jeans. Once the primary fabric panels are allocated for school bags and educational kits, the residual denim is systematically repurposed into secondary products such as tech pouches, tote bags, and utility pouches. These items are crafted by trained local artisans of Chakraviu Nepal, primarily women from rural communities, and introduced to the market as revenue-generating goods. Income from these sales contributes directly to sustaining the upcycling process, supporting artisan training, and expanding the distribution of school kits to children in need. By eliminating material waste and reinvesting proceeds into community and educational outcomes, this circular model reinforces environmental responsibility, strengthens local livelihoods, and creates a sustainable funding loop that strengthens the long-term viability of the initiative.
How our upcycled school kits are made
Step - 01
Denim Drive
Collect post consumer use denim from urban community by conducting community denim drives, partnering with colleges and corporates
Step - 02
Sort Denim by Type
Collect and sort denim by size and material. Hard jeans make the best bags! Other types of denim are also useful
Step - 03
Clean, Dry, and Sanitize
All denim are washed thoroughly, sanitized, and prepped for the upcycling artisans
Step - 04
Unstitch
Stitching of denim are carefully removed so that a proper textile is ready to make the bags and pouches
Step - 04
Cut, Sew, Check
Our upcycling artisans sew the bags, add labels, check the quality and the bags and pouches are ready!
Our Impact So Far
+
pairs of jeans
collected
K+
upcycled school
kits distributed
K+
million litres
of embedded water
repurposed
+
tonnes of CO2E
avoided through
Upcycling
+
kg of textile
waste diverted
from landfills
Our Partners and Supporters





- From old denim to new beginnings
Schools we have supported with upcycled school kits
- Shree Gyan Jyoti Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Kali Devi Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Kali Devi Secondary School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Bhumeshwori Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Chandeshwori Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Balchandra Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Trikhandi Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Nagdevi Basic School, Malta, Bagmati Rural Municipality-02, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Shree Bhudevi Basic School, East Rukum, Lumbini Province, Nepal
- Shree Baraha Basic School, East Rukum, Lumbini Province, Nepal
- Shree Janta Basic School, East Rukum, Lumbini Province, Nepal
- Stories from the hearts we've touched
What Our Clients Say About
Our Volunteers
Michel Smith
Cloth Store Inc.
Charity is the voluntary act of giving help, typically in the form of money, time, or resources, to those in need. Charitable organizations aim to solve social, environmental, and economic challenges by addressing issues like poverty
Michel Smith
Cloth Store Inc.
Charity is the voluntary act of giving help, typically in the form of money, time, or resources, to those in need. Charitable organizations aim to solve social, environmental, and economic challenges by addressing issues like poverty
Michel Smith
Cloth Store Inc.
Charity is the voluntary act of giving help, typically in the form of money, time, or resources, to those in need. Charitable organizations aim to solve social, environmental, and economic challenges by addressing issues like poverty
Michel Smith
Cloth Store Inc.
Charity is the voluntary act of giving help, typically in the form of money, time, or resources, to those in need. Charitable organizations aim to solve social, environmental, and economic challenges by addressing issues like poverty
