A SRI Lankan born businesswoman who has settled in Inverclyde is turning saris into bespoke jewellery and bags as she does her bit to help save the planet.

Teruko Tissera launched her own upcycling enterprise 'Made In Greenock' last year, after being forced to give up her nursery business due to poor health.

After moving to Belville Street during the Covid pandemic she started turning scraps of leather into statement pieces.

Now she is using beautiful layers of silk into something shiny and special - and highlighting climate change at the same time.

Teruko said: "I have hundreds of saris and people have started to donate them to me as well.

"I am turning them into jewellery, so that we are getting more use of them.

"I started of upcycling scraps of leather from a Bridge of Weir factory but there are many vegans and other people who do not like that.

"So I decided on saris as well to reach out to all markets.

"My business is called Made in Greenock because I love my new home so much."

Teruko used to own her own nurseries in West Sussex with husband Dave but was forced to give it up after started suffering badly from arthritis.

They decided to move to Scotland and fell in love with the views of the Clyde and moved into a Belville Street flat.

Within weeks they were locked in as the pandemic restrictions kicked in - and Teruko turned to her love of sewing to keep busy.

She said: "It is perfect for me because with my arthritis I can only work when my fingers let me."

The 55-year-old says she is now living the dream with her own business and told the Tele that the local crafting community had been very supportive of her, with friends at Rig Arts, Belville Community Gardens and social enterprise group Wevolution providing encouragement.

Teruko said: "I am loving having my own business, but I also feel that there needs to be more craft fairs in Inverclyde.

It is a very difficult time to have a business right now and having that platform would help.

"It would be great if there were more markets here, for businesses and customers."

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