Sustainable fashion in India is on the rise with homegrown, upcycled, fair-trade, organic, ethical and eco-friendly brands. Now thatâs a real fashion statement. Guest post by Parita Bhansali âNever buy anything thatâs less than fabulous. Then youâll wear it over and over again!â I often remember the words of Carrie Bradshawâs character in Confessions of a Shopaholic before I buy something. She might not have meant it that way, but for me, it represents everything sustainable fashion is about. The on-going Covid-19 crisis has made many of us pause and introspect about our impact on the planet. With the minimization of human consumption across the globe, nature seems to be healing and the air seems to be cleaner. We know we need to act now to save this planet we call home. What does fashion, the clothes we buy and the brands we support with our money have to do with any of this? Also read: Sustainable Living Ideas to Embrace in the New âNormalâ Turns out, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the worldâs annual carbon emissions â 5 times that of flying! Itâs also one of the most polluting, water-intensive and waste-generating industries. Thatâs exactly why I decided to write this massive guide to sustainable fashion in India. Hereâs how we can reduce our individual impact on the planet, one piece of clothing at a time:
In this post:
What is slow, sustainable fashion anywayAs the names suggest, fast and slow fashion refer to the pace at which you change / update your wardrobe. Do you impulsively buy new clothes that are environmentally harmful, water intensive, exploit humans, abuse animals and have a small shelf life? Or do you consciously invest in clothing brands that are mindful of the resources they use, refrain from using animal products, pay fair wages and last a lifetime? Broadly speaking, sustainable fashion refers to clothes and products that:
Also read: Can we Stay Safe Yet Reduce Single Use Plastic During the Pandemic? Whatâs wrong with fast fashionFast fashion uses up excessive natural resources
With the rise of online shopping, more fast fashion brands setting up shop in India and the constant pressure to keep up with fashion trends, India is already on its way to embracing fast fashion â at great cost to the environment. Slow fashion can reduce our individual carbon footprintOnly 15% of our clothes are recycled or donated. Even those gradually land up in landfills where they slowly release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change. Humans and animals are exploited to cater to our fashion demands
Also read: 11 Tips to Ease Your Transition Into a Vegan Lifestyle How to embrace sustainable fashion in IndiaGiven the obvious urgency to switch to more eco-friendly, ethical and conscious fashion, here are some ways Iâve learnt to make sustainable fashion choices: Ask before buyingDo I REALLY need that dress? Am I adding to my non-biodegradable cosmetic collection? Am I using hair products tested on animals? Before I buy anything, I do some quick research. Brands do reply to queries. I hit them up on their Instagram pages, drop them an email or call them. Recently, I was curious about Sugar Cosmetics, so I both googled and called them â and was surprised to learn that their products are cruelty free (not tested on animals). I recently dropped a message on Chumbakâs Instagram page asking about their accessories, and learnt that their belts and watches are made from animal leather. Invest in eco-friendly, organic, cruelty free brands in IndiaFor me, buying less means being able to invest more in better alternatives:
Identify ethical fashion brandsIâve been using the âGood on Youâ app â which rates brands based on their impact on humans, animals and the environment. It doesnât feature Indian brands, but can be useful for international ones or while shopping abroad. It also has brilliant content about sustainability, ethical sourcing, vegan fashion etc. Embrace slow fashion in India
Also read: How I Fit All My Possessions in Two Bags as I Travel the World Affordable sustainable clothing brands in IndiaEven as fast fashion is taking over the country, several sustainable fashion brands in India offer clothing that is not only creative but also homegrown, upcycled, fair-trade, organic, ethical and eco-friendly. Now thatâs a real fashion statement! MaatiMaati, founded by Neha Kabra, works with a community in Rajasthan to create unique clothing with traditional Indian printing techniques. A part of the fabric is upcycled, the dyes and print colours are borrowed from nature (not animals) and the packaging is plastic-free. HoomanwearHoomanwear is Indiaâs first â and perhaps only â causewear brand, which donates 15% of all profits to organisations involved in meaningful work. Founder Harshil Vohra is a passionate vegan, and all their t-shirts, crop tops and hoodies are plant-based (less than 5% synthetic fibers) and customizable with different vibes. They are made only on demand (zero waste), use certified sustainable inks, are free of animal ingredients and delivered in recycled pizza boxes or cloth bags! PANI SwimwearI was surprised to learn that most swimsuits leach microfibers into the ocean. And amazed to discover PANI Swimwear, founded by Leila, an international development professional from Mauritius who now calls Mumbai home. PANI makes body-positive swimsuits catered to a wide range of body types, designed from recycled fishing nets! No NastiesNo Nasties is Goaâs first organic clothing brand, founded by Apurva Kothari. They use organic cotton seeds on fair trade farms. Synthetic pesticides and GMOs are a strict no. The entire seeds to clothes process is eco-friendly and ethical, right down to the inks being used (made without any animal ingredients). IncrescentFounded by 24-year-old Anya Gupta, Increscent offers affordable vintage clothing (dresses, tops, skirts etc), crafted in small batches by a community in Rajasthan. 60% of the fabrics they use are recycled from the dead stock of various export houses! Brown Boy22-year-old Prateek Kayan quit his banking job in New York to start one of the few sustainable fashion brands in India exclusively for men. Brown Boy is all about organic, fair trade cotton, animal-friendly printing and smart casual t-shirts, yoga pants etc. RengeFounded by animal lover Sheena Uppal, Renge sources surplus fabric from warehouses to produce unique, limited edition designs for women. Proceeds from Renge are also used to support animal sanctuaries in India. Hemp KariThe latest addition to Indiaâs growing hemp movement is the homegrown brand Hemp Kari. They offer natural hemp-based fabrics with traditional hand embroidery done by local artisans in Lucknow and nearby villages. The tops are delivered in plastic-free packaging, and use tags / labels made of hemp paper. Also read: The Shooting Star Collection: Travel Inspired Clothing for a Cause High-end eco-friendly clothing brands in IndiaKa ShaKarishma Shahani Khan created a clothing line from plastic gunny sacks, old chandeliers and second-hand sneakers while studying in London. Now based out of Pune, her Ka Sha label explores natural fabrics and works closely with artisans across the country. Her zero waste âHeart to Haatâ collection focuses on upcycling discarded clothing. NicobarNicobar is the slow fashion brainchild of Simran Lal and Raul Rai, inspired by tropical living. Theyâre bigger than most sustainable fashion brands in India, with physical stores across the country. That only means more responsibility. Their core line uses only organic cotton, along with natural fabrics like bamboo. Their woolen collection uses recycled wool, and the kidswear is made entirely from leftover fabric. Most of their products come in plastic free packaging. Also read: Responsible Travel Tips for Authentic, Meaningful Experience on the Road Eco-friendly winter clothingHimalayan BloomsBangalore resident Pratibha Krishnaiah quit her corporate job to work as a Teach for India fellow in rural Uttarakhand. After the fellowship, she decided to stay on in the remote village of Kheti Khan, and began Himalayan Blooms â a social enterprise that seeks to create financial independence for local women. Using acrylic yarn and cotton (no wool), they hand-knit the most gorgeous ponchos, sweaters, scarfs and neck warmers â available for India wide delivery right from the heart of the Himalayas! Save the DuckSave the Duck is an American brand that specializes in animal-free, high tech winter wear. Their jackets are made from recycled plastic bottles and hoodies from recycled fishing nets. And yet their winter collection is warm enough to successfully put a vegan mountaineer on Mount Everest! Unfortunately India doesnât yet to seem to have its own ethical and eco-friendly winter sports brand. Wool and down feather-free jackets are available at Decathlon, made with polyester or other synthetic materials (not very eco-friendly though). Also read: How to Travel as a Vegan and Find Delicious Food Anywhere in the World Ethical, vegan and cruelty free cosmetics in IndiaIt is shocking that several animal ingredients are hidden away in our daily toiletries and cosmetics. Some of these include: Honey, the food of bees. Beeswax, derived by destroying their painstakingly created combs used to house their young and store honey. Gelatin, extracted from the skins, bones and tissues of animals. In 2020, despite being well-versed with what works on the human skin and scalp, some (big) brands like Maybelline, Estee Lauder and Clinique still test on animals! Here are some homegrown brands that support local entrepreneurs, source ethical ingredients and do not test on animals: Disguise CosmeticsDisguise Cosmetics is an Indian brand which believes in setting an honest, ethical and pocket-friendly beauty standard for our skin. All their cosmetics are free from animal oils, fats, pigments, secretions and proteins. Their matte lipsticks and all-day gel kajals are all the rage! The Switch FixI cannot stress how much I love this brand, setting the benchmark for sustainable fashion brands in India. The Switch Fix is everything I could wish for: No plastic, no palm oil, cruelty-free, vegan, plant-based, water-saving and non-polluting! From shampoo bars (no spill, no issues while checking in, last up to 50 washes) to bamboo toothbrushes, they have all our personal care needs covered. PlumHomegrown brand Plum offers a wide range of vegan and paraben-free hair, face, body and skincare products. They also recycle your empty plum plastic bottles with a gift voucher of Rs 50 for future use! VeganologyA young brand nurtured with love and compassion, Veganology uses essential oils to create moisturizing soap bars, body butters, lip balms and even a vegan, chemical-free talcum powder. FAEFAE, which stands for Free And Equal, is an Indian start-up trying to challenge conventional, biased notions of beauty. Their wide range of lipsticks is vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free. Kay by KatrinaIndiaâs first celebrity cosmetic brand Kay was launched last year by Katrina Kaif â and itâs reported to be vegan and cruelty-free! She said she wanted to create products that would spark a vegan cosmetics revolution in India â and I think sheâs on her way. ColorbarColorbar is Indiaâs third largest cosmetic brand. It is cruelty free, with a wide range of vegan products, well-labelled on the website. Khadi EssentialsThe homegrown Khadi Essentials brand is based on the principles of Ayurveda. Most of their personal care products are vegan, cruelty-free and paraben free. Lotus HerbalsLotus Herbals is hardly a stranger to Indian consumers. This local brand commits to natureâs wealth in tandem with being compassionate to all. No chemicals, nothing synthetic, no animal ingredients and no animal testing. HimalayaBack in the early 1900s, Mr Manal was travelling in Myanmar (then Burma), when he stumbled upon locals feeding the roots of a local herb to calm a herd of agitated elephants. His curiosity led him to start a revolution out of Dehradun in 1934, to develop all-natural personal care resources based on Ayurveda, science and nature. Himalaya continues to be a game changer among sustainable fashion brands in India and around the world! The Himalaya toothpaste and wide range of products make it much easier to be vegan in India and elsewhere. ViccoI guess we all remember the Vicco Vajradanti commercial from our childhood in India! Sounds old school, but Vicco is actually a pioneer of vegan and natural products in the country. The Body ShopBritish brand, The Body Shop, pioneered the cruelty free movement but some of their products still contain animal ingredients like milk, honey, beeswax, etc. The vegan products are well-labelled though. They mostly come in plastic but The Body Shop has recently started an initiative to engage women in local communities to make recycled bottles. Also read: Offbeat, Incredible and Sustainable â Travel Companies Changing the Way We Experience India Mindful fashion influencers in India
A couple of Instagrammers you can take inspiration from, as you learn about ethical, fair-trade, cruelty free and sustainable fashion brands in India: Anya GuptaAnya Gupta is a fashion and lifestyle influencer who makes DIY products like detergent, toothpaste etc look uber cool! And damn, her clothing and cosmetics recommendations are super inspiring. Aditi MayerAditi Mayer is all about sustainable fashion and social justice â two topics that rarely meet each other. Her profile focuses on South Asian fashion, and is one of the rare ones that deeply explore ethics and eco-friendly living. Also read: Why Long Term Travel is Less Like Instagram and More Like Real Life Your questionsThanks for sharing your questions around sustainable fashion. Those not directly answered in the post above are included below. If you have more questions, please ask them in the comments to this post. What are some unique sustainable fashion brands in Mumbai?Some sustainable fashion brands born in Mumbai include Nicobar, Inaaya and Co, and Bhumika & Jyoti. What does ethical clothing mean?âEthicalâ encapsulates anything that is kind to people, animals and the environment. Typically, ethical clothing is made with natural materials like organic cotton, hemp or bamboo. The artisans involved in crafting it work in respectable working conditions and are paid fairly. No animals are harmed in the making of the products, neither by making use of animal-derived ingredients nor by testing on animals. Where to find eco-friendly clothing in Pune?Puneâs homegrown sustainable labels include the Ka Sha boutique and Outliers Clothing Co. What are recommended sustainable fashion brands in BangaloreBangaloreâs SwapStitched clothes swap events are one of a kind! Bangaloreâs sustainable fashion options include House of Primes, Ethic Attic and Kaiyare. Do you think about slow, eco-friendly fashion? What steps have you taken (or will take) towards it? What are your favorite sustainable fashion brands in India?*Note: This article does not endorse or represent any of the brands mentioned. Views and opinions are entirely the authorâs own. If youâd like to contribute a guest post to The Shooting Star, please see guidelines here. The post The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Fashion in India. appeared first on The Shooting Star. The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Fashion in India. published first on https://airriflelab.tumblr.com via Tumblr The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Fashion in India.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About UsPhysical Educator and sports coach from 6 years , with degree in sports science and physical education from RLT University in US. Coach of football, skating, hockey and rugby teams. Now working as Sports development officer in Perth city. |