Fashion with a conscience

At a time when global issues like climate change and conservation are seeping through to every industry,whether automobiles or manufacturing,India’s fashion industry has lagged behind in adapting environment friendly norms. Finally,a handful of Delhi-based designers are enforcing eco-wear,however,they differ on what exactly that means. “Eco wear doesn’t refer just to pure fibre— the method of production also has to be sustainable right from manufacturing to packaging. For example,one of the biggest hazards to the environment is cotton growing through chemicals,” says Hemant Sagar of the label Hemant-Lecounet. Their latest collection,says Sagar,called ‘Ayurganic’ is made entirely of organic cotton,infused with ayurvedic herbs during the manufacturing stage itself. “The fabric is boiled at a certain temperature in the ayurvedic oil so the essence goes into the core of the textile. This cannot be washed away,” says Sagar. The organic cotton kurtas,pyjamas and bathrobes are pegged at Rs 4,000 and will be retailed through spas.

Meanwhile Delhi-based designer duo Anjana Das and Jyotsna Uppal of White Champa have designed versatile outfits for a yoga line that can be teamed up with a variety of dressy jackets or trousers for a night out. “In this collection inspired by the primal organic forms of the trees amongst which we live and work,we offer distinctive pieces which are rooted in active wear but extend into a way of life. Each piece is designed to move,to breathe,and to extol the simplicity and beauty of an environmentally friendly lifestyle,” says Das who also heads Sharira,another contemporary design label. The clothes are mainly a series of tops,kurtas,skirts and trousers. The range is quite affordable,with prices starting at Rs 2,000 and going up to Rs 8,000.

For Mumbai based designer Sabyasachi Mukhrejee,green fashion is not new. Since the beginning,the soft spoken designer has been spurring his customers to build a green wardrobe in budget friendly ways. “Some clothes go out of style and then become trendy again. Like your mother’s old patola sari can be reused,” says Mukherjee. He often digs into his mother’s trunk fishing out old batik saris,chanderi blouses,jamwar scarves and patola saris,reusing whatever he can. His Bridal Sutra collections begins at Rs 4000.

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