Fashion! The word itself brings in a picture of flash lights, cameras, runways, models, designers, brands and trends in front of us. Aishwarya Rai Bachhan wears a Sabyasachi at Cannes and creates a buzz. Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider look was another statement. From Manish Malhotra saris to Carrie Parry's timeless pieces, each designer wear is in the wish list of many females.
An Armani suit or a Louis Vuitton spring collection in the store is desired by a brand crazy boy who has just received his first salary or of an Indian father who has a daughter's wedding on cards. Everybody notices the latest pieces in trend, be it an Ambani, a Tata, or a middle class man who checks his pocket twice before buying a branded suit.
But how many of us realize that following the fashion icons don't just cost us money but morals too. Do we ever give a thought that an animal was killed just for that one piece of clothing? One pair of trendy boots cost an animal its body skin. Ever thought that a worker while making that robe was not paid wages he deserved? Or for making that designer blazer, was the worker given a healthy environment to work? Green has become a part of our lifestyle now.
Green is a way of living for many of us, this includes what we drive, eat & wear. From CNG vehicles, organic farming to zero energy bio appliances, we're trying to opt green organic ways in every way. Ever thought of making your wardrobe green? Attires made from organically grown fibres, i.e. fibres from plants sown without potentially toxic additives, are considered green. In school, one must have read a chapter on Indian history that had pictures of Mahatma Gandhi spinning a yarn.
Retaining, promoting and continuing these traditional skills like spinning a yarn, using a handloom and embroidery by hand among others is another way of going green. Besides organic ways and traditional skills, ethically producing green fashion is also green style which means "No sweatshops or waste dumping manufacturers"-a way of showing respect for environment. Most of us aren't familiar with some practices carried out unethically in the fashion industry. Sweatshops are factories or workshops where manual workers are employed at very low wages for long hours at poor working conditions.
These workplaces are crowded, dangerous, low paying and without job security. There are some countries where sweatshops are prevailing. To fight these unfair practices, ethical consumerism is constantly evolving. Make sure you wear brands which are Fair-Trade certified. These certifications fight deplorable existence of sweatshops. The act makes it illegal for traders to mislead consumers, give them false information, or use unfair trading practices like sweatshops.
Choose brands wisely so you too don't end up becoming a part of the unfair-trade. Have you ever thought your Grandma's ethnic wardrobe could make you go green and create a statement around you? Well our celebs seem to be doing so! "Vintage" is the new cool. Vintage Cars, wines, jewellery and so are clothing. This is the latest trend, especially at wedding.
Priyanka Gandhi wore her mom's wedding sari on her D-Day and so did Sania Mirza during her nikaah. Kareena wore the three generation old traditional ghaghra for her nikaah to Saif. And this bridal list includes Vidya Balan, Eesha Deol, Shilpa Shetty, Kajol, Raveena Tandon and Lara Dutta. It is said to be the emotional quotient that makes a bride feel beautiful, loved and truly cherished. But it is also a step towards going green. Having preserved resources like a 9 Yard saree or a 10 Kg bridal lehenga, is a self-less step towards going green.
The Green finally is meeting the runway at international levels too. Brands are now coming up with their ever-new green collections. Estethica at London Fashion Week and The Green Shows at New York Fashion Week now present ever-impressive works of sustainable fashion. The very famous Feral Childe, Carrie Parry, Albama, Chanin, Titania Ignlis, among others are part of the green league.
When it comes to going green, two major Indian apparel brands have taken the lead. Van Heusen and Arrow have come up with 100 percent organic lines and are also spreading awareness among consumers. Fab India, Wills Lifestyle, Benetton are also among Indian green brands. Levis has introduced its Eco Jeans. In this collection the brand will be using the utmost innovative green ways like use of coconut shells instead of buttons and metal rivets!
Start green because there can be no purpose more inspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, re-weaving the diversity of life that still surrounds us. As they say you can never have an impact on society, if you have not changed yourself. Begin with you. All big things are made up of trifles. Do your bit for the environment. Spend your morals and money wisely, select clothing that is green. Be the change, bring in new and bring in green. To sustain earth, sustainable fashion is necessary and for this we need to Go Green.
Suhani Vashishta is pursuing graduation in Apparel Production from National Institute of Fashion Technology.
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