Recycling & Reviving

_{Punjar with his tool. Traditional method of fluffing the cotton. sr}

There’s a certain kind of euphoria in reusing, recycling, or upcycling something. It’s almost intoxicating, the satisfaction of knowing you didn’t just discard something that still had life left in it.

It started with my pillows. Over the years, they had become thin, flat, and clumpy. Some were filled with microfiber polyester, others with different types of polyester, and two had desi cotton (kapas). My mother had lovingly filled some of them for my dowry, while others she bought for me at different times.

_{A Cloud of Comfort (literally) – All pillows, except for the two not emptied here, have been emptied, leaving behind a clumpy heap of filling waiting for renewal.}

I still have four brand-new pillows, and honestly, I could have just bought new fillings. But then what would I do with the old ones? The answer was simple: reuse them.

So, I removed all the covers/cases, unstuffed them, and spread everything out on two sheets in my lawn. The weather was perfect — neither too hot nor too cold. As I sorted through the fillings, I realized they were still clean, just lumpy from years of use. I also realized that the sun was a little too much. It was not as pleasant, and by the end of the day, I would have a proper tan or whatever damage they say the sun does. But there was no turning back now.

I began separating the different types of polyester and cotton, fluffing them back to life. But I have some pillows filled with desi cotton as well. In our Urdu/Punjabi language, the process of fluffing this cotton is called panjai. So, I had a few pillows that needed to be fluffed in that way. And for this you either need a professional (traditional way of fluffing them with a apparatus), or a cotton carding machine setup.

In the city near the town where I live, this service is available. While I fluffed the filling of some polyester pillows with my hands, I sent two of them (the cotton ones) to a machine in the town for fluffing. Then, I realized that even after refluffing, I would still have 2–3 empty pillow cases left. So, I called and ordered 2 more kilos of cotton to be fluffed as well by the cotton carding machine.

At that moment, I was reminded of something my grandmother once told me. She lived in a village, and I remember her describing how, with the arrival of winter, men carrying a large, simple yet peculiar tool would start appearing in the streets and neighborhoods. These same individuals were also available for carding cotton used in wedding dowries and other household preparations.

_{This filling was particularly difficult to pull apart. My wrists are aching and my fingers have some blisters}

Curious, I did a little research and came across an article that described this process in detail. Let me translate the process for you:

This tool, resembling a large bow and arrow, had a taut string like a bow. The string was placed in a heap of raw cotton, and a wooden handle was repeatedly struck against it. This caused the cotton to rise, its hard lumps breaking apart into soft fibers. Using a fan or natural airflow, the softened cotton was separated, while the remaining tough lumps were processed again. This meticulous process continued until the cotton was completely fluffed and ready for use.

The cotton carding setup consisted of two main components:

• Katka
• Panjanr

The string in the 'panjanr' was called 'Tundi', traditionally made by drying the intestines of sheep or goats.

Families held these workers in high regard, addressing them as Mama (uncle) or Chacha(paternal uncle). They were provided with food, tea, and other necessities as a gesture of respect and hospitality.

Today, these Punjabi craftsmen are nearly extinct, found only in a few remote mountainous areas where modern cotton-processing machines are unavailable. In contrast, in the plains, both their craft and their memory have faded into oblivion. The relentless march of modernity has replaced cotton with polyester and synthetic materials. Ready-made quilts, comforters, pillows, and mattresses now dominate the market, erasing the need for traditional cotton carding.

In the end the author of the article emphasized, or rather, sadly rounded off the whole essay with these lines:

"The race toward modernization has completely transformed us. Like a crow trying to mimic a swan’s graceful walk, we have lost our own way."

"If only we had preserved our identity—embracing progress without forsaking our rich cultural heritage."

Well, I don't totally agree with them. Everything has its time and era. There’s no harm in using machines for this work.

For example, when I needed it today, should I have just sat around waiting for that Chacha (traditional craftsman) to appear? Instead, I quickly sent someone to the market, and the job was done.

So yes, modernization isn’t always a bad thing.

Apologies for the detour!

So, where was I? Oh yes—today, I refilled 11 pillows. Wah wah! What a feeling! All neat and clean—pillows refreshed, all linen washed, sun-dried, and filled again.

Did you ask how I sewed the pillow openings? Well, with a sewing machine, not by hand! I filled them up, and then, with a little help, set the machine to a broad stitch (barra bakhiya rakh ke), and stitched all the pillow mouths shut.

And just like that (well not just like that) —mission accomplished!

I was so tired by the time I finished everything that I didn’t take pictures of the stack of eleven glorious pillows. Now, they are in their respective rooms. I have only three in my own room.

Let me show you these beauties... I’ll stack them up for you so you can see how filled and plump they are!

Nah! The picture doesn't do them justice. They look so beautiful, and I will definitely enjoy sleeping on one of these tonight. 😜

There’s something so satisfying about giving new purpose to things instead of just throwing them away. It’s not just about sustainability, it’s about appreciating what we already have. And honestly, nothing beats the joy of recycling, reviving, and resting on your own handiwork!

So what do they say: Reuse, Recycle and obviously Reduce.

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If only I could use all these hashtags ;)))

_{recycle, upcycling, sustainable-living, pillow-revamp, eco-friendly, reuse, diy, home-essentials, green-living, minimal-waste}