How much positive impact can fashion have?
Sri-Lanka based women’s wear brand Amirah&Aamilah proves that intentional choices and awareness can elevate fashion choices from just stunning fits into something that can usher in true change.
A self-titled label run by twin sisters Amirah and Aamilah, the brand encompasses slow made, zero waste, upcycled fashion. Chosen and made with care for not just customers but for the earth itself, each piece tells a story laden with self-expression.
From a heartfelt childhood dream to be designers to becoming a brand that foregrounds purposeful fashion, Amirah and Aamilah are the Monthly Muse for January.
In conversation with us, the pair dive into their journey so far spanning the evolution of their brand, their upcycling workshops and projects, their proudest moments so far and future goals, among much more.
Read their full story in the Q&A below
1. What sparked the inspiration for your brand Amirah&Aamilah?
We were in the sixth grade when we first realised that we wanted to become designers. We were huge fans of Hindi cinema, completely mesmerised by the costumes worn on screen. We would constantly admire Manish Malhotra and his journey, which inspired us deeply. The colours and the silhouettes fascinated us. Even though our styles are very different, he became a shared inspiration who made us fall in love with fashion. What started as a random childhood idea slowly turned into a dream we couldn’t stop talking about. Looking back now, it feels incredibly special that we discovered our passion at such a young age, all thanks to our love for Bollywood.
Slow fashion isn’t about restriction, it’s about mindful enjoyment and celebrating clothing in a more meaningful way.
2. Your brand focuses on sustainability, slow fashion and upcycling. In your opinion, what is the first step to making more eco-conscious fashion choices? How to get started?
For us, the first step toward more eco-conscious fashion is awareness. It’s about slowing down and becoming intentional with what you buy, asking where a piece comes from, how it’s made, and whether it’s something you’ll truly love and wear for years. Getting started doesn’t have to mean changing everything at once. It can begin with appreciating and reworking what you already own, choosing quality over quantity, and supporting brands that value sustainability, craftsmanship, and longevity. Small, thoughtful choices really do add up.
3. You take in upcycling projects. It’s not only sustainable but also an exercise in collaboration and creativity – any particularly memorable upcycling projects you’ve worked on that are special or you’re proud of?
Everything we’ve upcycled is equally special but it should be our first project since we started this initiative and it was to make scrunchies for a birthday party that they were planning to give as a return gift and we managed to make over 200 scrunchies from old clothes provided by the client. The feedback was truly beautiful as the client said the guests loved the scrunchies and the fact that people are choosing upcycling as an option itself is a win and we’re truly so proud of that particular project.
Fashion, to us, is a form of storytelling and self-expression. It has always been a meaningful part of our lives allowing us to express who we are, where we come from, and how we feel without saying a word.
4. You hold creative upcycling workshops. What’s been the feedback on it and how do you hope to grow these types of workshops further?
The feedback has been amazing. The best compliment we’ve received is that many participants say our workshops reconnect them with their childhood, allowing them to be creative and create literally anything they want and that’s such a wonderful feeling. And definitely we’ll be sticking to conducting as many workshops as we can in person and also we’re hoping to host online workshops, we’ve done one already and the feedback was truly amazing. So we hope to conduct more of them so that our workshops are more accessible for anyone from across the globe.
Every single time we successfully upcycle a product, it’s a proud moment for us.
5 What does fashion mean to you both? How place does it hold in your life and how are you paying what it means to you forward?
Fashion, to us, is a form of storytelling and self-expression. It has always been a meaningful part of our lives allowing us to express who we are, where we come from, and how we feel without saying a word. Beyond aesthetics, fashion holds emotional value, especially when it comes to upcycling old clothing. Some pieces may no longer be wearable and end up forgotten in the corner of a cupboard, but once upcycled, they are given new life and often become even more treasured. That’s why we love upcycling so much. Every upcycled piece carries memories and deeper stories. We believe we’re paying that forward by creating pieces thoughtfully and responsibly, encouraging slower consumption, and showing that fashion can be both expressive and conscious. Through our brand, we hope to inspire others to connect more deeply with what they wear and choose fashion with purpose.
6. What are some myths about sustainable/slow fashion that you’d love to break?
One of the biggest myths we’d love to break is that sustainable or slow fashion has to be expensive or boring. In reality, it’s about valuing quality, creativity, and longevity over fast trends, it can be just as stylish, unique, and fun. Another misconception is that small choices don’t matter. Every thoughtful decision, whether upcycling, rewearing, or supporting conscious brands, contributes to a positive impact. Slow fashion isn’t about restriction, it’s about mindful enjoyment and celebrating clothing in a more meaningful way.
7. What’s been the proudest moment as brand owners/designers for you both?
Honestly, every single time we successfully upcycle a product, it’s a proud moment for us. To specifically mention one highlight, we were recognized for our work and had our first cover feature on Happiness Magazine, and this will be our second feature and we’re incredibly grateful for it. Moments like these make us feel truly proud of ourselves.
8. Finally, what’s your ideal vision for your brand? Any specific dreams or ideas you’d love to implement?
We definitely want to explore the aspect of men’s clothing, that’s something we’ve been wanting to do and hopefully will soon. We’ve also been looking for ways to fully commit to producing from deadstock, striving to reduce the amount of fabric released by factories that ends up in landfills.
Connect with Amirah&Aamilah : Instagram
Have you read last year’s final Monthly Muse feature yet? Check out all the amazing
Leave a Reply