DOBARA
Category: Apparel
Competitions: International
DOBARA (Urdu for "again") is a modular leather biker jacket built on one principle: garments should be repaired, not replaced. The average clothing item is worn just five times before disposal — DOBARA challenges this through a lace-and-eyelet construction that removes permanent seams entirely. Side panels, underarm gussets, and sleeves attach via brass eyelets and waxed cotton cord, letting the wearer resize the fit, detach the sleeves to convert the jacket into a gilet, or swap out damaged panels. Its signature feature is a visible repair system: when the leather scuffs or tears, it is mended with contrast-leather patches stitched in a geometric pattern inspired by South Asian rally/gudri quilting, a centuries-old textile repair tradition. Each patch becomes a visible record of wear, turning damage into character instead of waste, answering the brief's call for pieces "loved for a lifetime." Built from over 65% full-grain cattle leather with organic cotton lining and wool felt structure, DOBARA also opens a commercial opportunity: a companion "repair kit" as an add-on retail product, extending the garment's life and the brand's revenue potential.
