India, with its rich cultural tapestry and diverse heritage, has a vibrant and dynamic fashion scene that reflects the country’s historical, social, and artistic influences. Indian fashion is a captivating blend of tradition and modernity, where age-old craftsmanship meets contemporary design trends.
Over the years, India’s fashion industry has gained international recognition, with Indian designers showcasing their talent on global runways.
In this week’s edition of “Sustainable Fashion Around the World,” we’ll look at fashion brands from India. Additionally, I’ll highlight three amazing Indian couture designers who presented their collections during Haute Couture Fashion Week ‘24.
I was a Sari
The first brand on the list has a name with a beautiful backstory. I was a Sari’s origin lies in founder Stefano Funari’s work with slum and street kids. During this time, he realized that empowering women is the key to making a real impact. He states, “Mothers are the lever to bring about the change we wish for the children’s lives.“
The brand’s website explains how empowering women is crucial for societal change, as their financial independence not only results in a dual income for the family, reducing reliance on the male member but also contributes to children’s education and welfare. Additionally, it acts as a catalyst for broader societal shifts, breaking the dependence of women and allowing them to step out, develop soft skills, and gain confidence.
Choosing the sari for their projects was intentional, given its cultural significance and heritage among the women in the slums. This decision inspired the brand’s unique name, reflecting the transformative journey each sari undergoes and the empowerment experienced by the women behind the creations.
I was a Sari, pays all its artisans a living wage and gives them access to financial, mental health, and medical support. Moreover, the women learn English and computing and can use after-school facilities for their children.
Since the start of the brand, I was a Sari has helped hundreds of women create better lives for themselves and their children.
Beyond empowering women, I was a Sari embraces sustainability. Operating on a circular production model, the brand breathes new life into existing products. It refrains from using virgin materials, opting instead to transform old materials into new pieces, designing around the flaws. Additionally, the brand adheres to a zero-waste policy.
Price range: €35,70 – €111,70
Interested in I was a Sari? Please visit their website or take a look at their Instagram (@i_was_a_sari).
No Nasties
In 2011, Apurva Kothari Launched No Nasties with the intention of living a more purpose-driven life.
Since the beginning, No Nasties has made 100% organic, fair trade, vegan clothing, but–as they accurately state–“that is no longer enough. The world is on fire.” Therefore, the brand has elevated its commitment by making products that remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than they make–a bold statement, don’t you think?
But bold or not, the brand proves it. First, No Nasties explains that they minimize their own impact on the planet by using 100% organic cotton and a local supply chain. Second, the brand neutralizes its footprint by investing in carbon offset projects for solar power, wind energy, and reforestation. Third, going above and beyond, No Nasties offsets 300% of their footprint instead of the– already impressive– 100%. Moreover, the brand also plants three trees for every product. To solidify these claims, No Nasties provides detailed data on their website.
To ensure nothing goes to waste, No Nasties has created a three-part circular system. The first part involves the “resell” program, ensuring that products still in good condition find new homes through resale on the No Nasties website. The second part, “mid-life crisis,” addresses worn clothes with stains or small tears. No Nasties takes the initiative to repair these items and then sends them to thrift stores. Finally, the “end-of-life” stage handles clothes that can no longer be worn. These garments undergo a transformation into yarn, contributing to the creation of new clothes—Effectively closing the loop on fashion waste.
Last, all factories used by No Nasties are Fair Trade and GOTS certified, ensuring that workers find themselves in safe and healthy working conditions.
Price Range: €14 – €66
Interested in No Nasties? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@nonasties).
Sui
Founded in 2017 by Mahima Gujral, Sui emerged as a response to the challenges faced by the fashion industry. The brand was born with the idea of making conscious clothing exciting and powerful.
The name “Sui,” meaning “needle” in Hindi, symbolizes connection. Much like a needle stitching threads to fabric, Sui aims to weave a connection between nature and fashion, as expressed on their website.
Sui demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through mindful material choices. Prioritizing natural elements, the brand utilizes hand-spun organic cotton, hemp, recycled fabrics, Tencel, and linen. The uniqueness of each piece is enhanced by herbal dyes, providing a touch of individuality to the color of each item. Moreover, Sui is actively working towards achieving zero waste.
Beyond environmental initiatives, Sui places a strong emphasis on community support. Collaborating with NGOs like WomenWeave, Pin and Needles, and Bargu Textiles reflects their commitment to bettering communities. Lastly, Sui ensures the well-being of garment workers by providing safe and healthy working conditions along with fair wages.
Price range: ₹ 550 – ₹ 22,000
Interested in Sui? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@wearesui).
The Summer House
Established in 2005 by Rekha Datla and Shivangini Padhiyar, The Summer House stands out as a stylish fashion brand designed for everyday living. According to Salt Mango Tree, the brand’s inception is rooted in nostalgia and a shared appreciation for life’s simple joys, which is reflected in their designs.
Collaborating with 952 Indian artisans, The Summer House is dedicated to preserving and sustaining traditional craft techniques and textiles. This partnership serves as a means to empower artisans from vulnerable craft communities, steering them away from exploitative practices. The brand transparently showcases the various techniques employed by these artisans on its website, such as Bandhani, a method involving intricate knotting and dyeing to create unique patterns.
The materials used by The Summer House include GOTS-certified organic cotton and Tencel. Notably, the brand prioritizes undyed fabrics whenever possible to minimize the environmental impact of dyes. When dyeing is necessary, the process takes place in facilities with wastewater management to prevent harmful chemicals from entering waterways and ecosystems.
Price range: $13.54 – $288.76
Interested in The Summer House? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@thesummerhouse.in).
Oshadi
In 2016, Oshadi was founded by Nishanth Chopra. In Sanskrit, Oshadi means ‘essence of nature’ or ‘healing plant.’
Oshadi has its own regenerative cotton farm, where the brand grows cotton and indigo using ancient Indian agricultural practices. Embracing restorative methods, Oshadi replenishes soil nutrients and enhances carbon capture, ensuring the overall health of the ecosystem. The brand’s commitment to “give back more than you take” is exemplified by sharing resources with like-minded designers and brands.
Oshadi‘s dedication extends to the local communities, as the brand hires individuals and grants them the autonomy to determine their own terms, including setting their own prices. This approach guarantees fair compensation for farmers and artisans, aligning with Oshadi‘s commitment to maintaining the highest standards.
By choosing to farm its materials and empowering artisans, farmers, and producers to establish their own prices, Oshadi is pioneering a transformative approach to the fashion system. The brand’s ethos reflects a conscious effort to reshape the industry while promoting sustainability and ethical practices.
Price range: €101 – €468
Interested in Oshadi? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@oshadi_collective).
Conclusion
What impresses me about these brands is their deep appreciation for ancient Indian practices in textiles, farming, and design. It’s remarkable to witness how they preserve Indian heritage in their designs while incorporating environmentally friendly practices and ensuring ethical treatment of workers. Additionally, their commitment to enhancing their own communities is truly amazing to see.
Indian Fashion Designers taking over Fashion Week
This week marked the end of Haute Couture Fashion Week, and although there were many amazing couture shows and new collections, I HAVE to highlight the Indian designers who took over.
Vaishali Shadangule
Vaishali Shadangule is the founder of the eponymous label Vaishali S and is the first Indian woman to show her collection during Paris Fashion Week. From its beginning in 2004, the label has explored India’s heritage through techniques, materials, and methods.
This fashion week, she showed her amazing new collection, “Ancestral Threads”.
Want to see more of Vaishali Shadangule? Please visit their website or take a look at their Instagram (@vaishalisstudio).
Rahul Mishra
Rahul Mishra is the first Indian designer to show his collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week, combining slow fashion with traditional Indian Crafts.
His latest collection was a homage to insects and reptiles. With this collection, he aimed to show that these creatures are not scary, as we have been conditioned to think, and instead are very important to our ecosystem.
All the insects and reptiles have been embroidered onto the garments, and the results are breathtaking.
Want to see more of Rahul Mishra? Please visit their website or take a look at their Instagram (@rahulmishra_7).
Gaurav Gupta
Artisan and Courtier Gaurav Gupta co-founded his label with his brother Saurabh Gupta in 2005. At its core, the brand remains Indian, combining indigenous construction and embellishing techniques with the future. The brand has created many amazing pieces for award shows and red-carpet looks and has many celebrities, including Beyoncé.
His newest collection focused on form-fitting silhouettes using different techniques, including metal plating. The results were astounding.
Want to see more of Gaurav Gupta? Please visit their website or take a look at their Instagram (@Gauravguptaofficial).
Sources
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