Written By,
Sangeetha Malik
Ex Corporate Leader
Goa
I remember in school writing an article about how one day we would be taking our future generations to a museum for them to see the animals present in the zoo today. Twenty years down the line that statement sounds very close to becoming reality and extinction of many precious species is bound to happen if we don’t preserve and take care of what needs to be protected.
When one is young often fashion is largely about being trendy and clinging tightly to fast fashion as one misconstrues not repeating outfits as a social symbol. “More becomes better” however it happens at the price of creating landfills of synthetic non-recyclable waste which has nowhere to go. Fast fashion is often a vicious circle where we are often drawn to the low prices and the allure of staying on trend leads to over consumption and a disposable attitude towards clothing. No wonder fashion is one of the most polluting industries.
Thank goodness ageing often comes with wisdom!!
Wisdom to understand and appreciate the beauty of handmade, eco-friendly and artisanal choices that not only aids in creating less waste for nature to consume but also helps in preserving age old crafts and weaves. Moving towards sustainable fashion for me has been a progressive journey over the years in every form of fashion I purchase today, majority of which are sarees. Why more sarees because we all know a saree is the least judgemental outfit in a women's wardrobe. It only adds grace and elegance no matter which part of the world you wear it.
The abundance of Information that is available today has been a great tool in understanding consuming slowly and mindfully is the ideal way to go. If one puts in a little effort in educating oneself in buying clothes that meet certain environmental and ethical standards, where the craftsmanship/ people involved are fairly paid would foster global change. In my personal opinion, just like diamonds, sarees can be a girl's best friend if chosen wisely and if well taken care of one can often pass on these timeless beauty from one generation to another easily. An elegant jamdani for a school farewell party to an heirloom kanjeevaram or benarasi for the wedding, our country's handloom industry has everything in between and beyond. All we need is a little nudge here and there to be a little experimental because these six yards of grace can be adorned any way one feels like. Thoughtfully investing in a sustainable wardrobe should always work better and will also ensure that our clothes last longer and stay out of landfills while promoting our rich culture of handwoven and handcrafted garments to ensure that many generations from now we still have access to it like today and they don't merely just hang in the museums as a heritage of the past.
