Learn about sustainable fashion in the Indian context with Brown Living. Discover the benefits of slow fashion and how you can make a difference.
Slow Fashion is a worldwide movement of designing, creating, and buying garments for quality and longevity.
It encourages slower production schedules, fair wages, lower carbon footprints, and (ideally) zero waste. By adding transparency about the production process and educating consumers about the craft of making clothing, we hope consumers will begin to understand what is required of producing a well-made garment.
But did you also know that our forefathers have always promoted slow fashion in a revolutionary way?
Slow Fashion is intrinsically woven into the Indian culture and freedom movement.
The Swadeshi movement (economic nationalism), a Gandhian philosophy, encouraged Indian citizens to spin, weave and wear khadi and burn their foreign imported clothes in public bonfires. Khadi, known as the "Fabric of Freedom" encouraged a lot of modern Indian designers to make a statement, and to give it all a new meaning in the slow fashion movement. It also continues to support weavers who have learnt the skill from their forefathers.
Commonly found today, even cosmetic cleaning products such as washcloths, various labels for apparel, clothing accessories and stationery too, all made from Khadi. Khadi, also known as Muslin, is the Indian handspun, handwoven cloth made with 100% organic cotton, which was at the heart of Gandhi’s struggle for independence and a politically infused symbol of Indian-ness!
In connecting society, clothing and personal identity with political decision-making, Gandhi’s vision of khadi is certainly a forerunner of today’s ethical fashion movement.
Experimental designers have now taken on the challenge to bring a change and use the "Fabric of Freedom" to create revolutionary and earthy statements in the ethical fashion world.
Watch this video created by Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with Khadi and Village Industries Commission, showcasing inspiring collection from designer THREE on Sustainable Fashion Day 2019.
Additional links for you to read:
https://porch.com/advice/avoiding-fast-fashion-get-sustainable-wardrobe
