In a world of instant gratification, we are used to making purchases quickly without regard for environmental impact and while being slow. fashion has gradually risen in public awareness, fast fashion still dominates fashion charts around the world. Slow fashion, to the uninitiated, simply means that fashion is created through slow processes, which essentially means traditional human-participatory processes. crafts and arts will be part of that.
In turn, that simply means we are reducing the carbon footprint of our products, while maintaining traditional methods and materials. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Madhumita Nath, Founder/Director of Ek Katha Clothing, shared: “Choice is the most powerful tool a designer has. We change the narrative of our business just by making these choices. Choose raw materials, production methods and innovative ways to pack sustainably and use slow design.” She suggests the following 3 tips for doing slow fashion –
1. Focus on your supply chain: Find the source materials and methods. This ensures traceability and transparency, giving your product confidence. Tie up with honest partners is one way to do so. No certification works better than honest work at the grassroots level.
2. Ask questions like how this will be done: Choose to do it by hand instead of by machine and do it as much as possible in the creative process.
3. Materials: All man-made and synthetic materials use machines to manufacture. Choosing natural materials means that you have chosen the participation of people and besides the beautiful silks, bamboos, hemp and cotton that you have, you are certainly creating jobs for a lot of people in different regions. countryside.
According to Shreya Mehra, Designer/Founder of Aab Label, there are countless ways to understand slow fashion and plan for it. She emphasizes, “Among all the new age definitions of slow and sustainable fashion, what we often overlook are practices that have been ingrained in Indian society for ages suggesting a awareness of sustainable practices on the part of consumers. While brands adopt methods that inculcate sustainability in their production, the cycle is complete only when consumers finally get involved.” To do slow fashion effectively, she recommends:
- Prefer to buy items that are less dominated by short-term fashion trends but will last longer in the wardrobe.
- Choose sustainable fabrics. Naturally grown fabrics use less pesticides and hand-woven fabrics use less water and electricity in production.
- Buy better quality, usually cost more but also last longer and last longer.
- Reduce washing cycles. Since most clothes don’t need to be washed very often, it’s a good idea to air dry them before storing and spot clean for minor stains. This significantly reduces water consumption and increases the life of the garment.
Kaveri Lalchand, Founder of Kaveri, asserts: “As fashion designers, entrepreneurs, thinkers, enthusiasts and the industry at large, it is our duty to shed light on the alternatives that can be make more sense through the lens of environmental responsibility and sustainability: slow fashion.”
Speaking of quality versus quantity, she says, “Famous designer Viviene Westwood has made it clear how important it is to buy less and make the right choices while helping your outfits last longer. We must subscribe to the habit of paying more attention to brands that offer better quality fabrics, are diligent in their craft, and have the means to build lasting manufactured garments.” Speaking of fashion born from nature, she said, “The most passionate champions on our planet are natural fabrics – from silk, cotton, linen, etc., we have a wide range of fabrics. more eco-friendly alternatives when compared to synthetics like polyester. Many people turn to the second option because it’s cheaper but at the expense of the health of the environment – because it’s non-biodegradable, known for its toxic microfibres, and is one of the main sources of ocean pollution.
She concludes: “Fashion can be a daunting endeavor for many people with so many options on the market. It doesn’t have to be this way. Making the right choices can go a long way for you, your wallet and the environment. The first step is to direct your conversation and interests to brands that value the artistic integrity of meaningful garments; their makers, whose diligence with artistic flair make your works one-of-a-kind; use ethical practices in garment manufacturing in a more responsible way to contribute to the future of our planet and generations to come.”
