Recycle clothes for planet-friendly Holi

The latest Holi trends are the colorful smoke bombs or floral Holi, and depending on the kind of Holi party you would be attending, choose your outfits and accessories accordingly

Despite the unpredictable Coronavirus scare going around in the country right now, Indians wouldn’t let it damp the spirit of Holi. The celebrations already started at the Ambani house with Isha Ambani’s Holi party where celebrities like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nick Jonas, Shloka Mehta, Sonali Bendre, Jacqueline Fernandez, and many others were seen sporting colourful clothes. While white clothes are the most common choice for the festival of colours, fashion experts are pushing sustainable options to make Holi 2020 more thoughtful. Here’s how you can join the bandwagon and keep the fashion quotient on point with old clothes.

For Holi, it is advisable to bring out old clothes and recycle outfits that you don’t wear anymore. You can

choose white outfits; however, you can also introduce subtle hints of colour into your looks by draping a coloured dupatta or scarf, suggests designer Priyanka Modi of AMPM. She says, “Here’s a neat trick - if you are going to a Holi party with a large group, it is easy to wear similar scarves or dupattas so that you can find each other in the crowd. If you want to look stylish, then go for classic cuts and clean shapes that are already there in your wardrobe. A fuss-free look will also help you to move around. The clothes you invest in must have staying power and are not just limited to being one-party wonders. White is a non-colour or absence of colour. It can work with anything you want to style it with. Opt for a fresh colour palette like tan, mustard, steel grey and dusty rose to pair with our white shirts, kurtas, and anarkalis."

While going for Holi parties and get together with friends, one can opt for something more upbeat and make a statement by fusing Indian and Western outfits. For Holi, you can mix some old and new clothes to put together a well-thought attire. According to Shazia Husain, founder of Weaves and Knots, “These days’ hand block prints are trending, and instead of a plain white kurta, search your wardrobe for nice old printed pieces that can paired with old denim or salwar. On this occasion of colourful festival, drape yourself in natural fabrics coloured in vegetable dyes. Wear a lovely kalamkari kurta or an old ikat suit created using environmental-friendly fabrics, to enjoy a guilt-free festival.”

The latest Holi trends are the colorful smoke bombs or floral Holi, and depending on the kind of Holi party you would be attending, choose your outfits and accessories. While recycling an old outfit for the festival is a good idea, Shilpa Bhatia, founder of The Clothing Rental, wants you to be inspired by the Bollywood themes to make some memorable pictures for social media. She says, “You never know when or where you get photographed, so be prepared to put your best foot forward like the celebrities who are always making statements with their looks. One can mix poppy bright colors like rani pink, haldi yellow, bright green or peacock blue with the usual pastels and whites to create interesting combs. Girls can add bling with jhumkis or mirror work earrings and tons of bangles, while guys can don a dapper draped kurta on some slim pants with a colorful dupatta to look festive ready for the occasion."

While choosing outfits - be it traditional, contemporary or casual – keep in mind that there is no limit to experimenting on looks for this colorful festival. Radhika Duggal, founder of Sattika, mentions that dressing up for Holi should reflect joy and happiness. She shares her expertise and mentions, “Apart from white, shades of pastels and bright colors of spring make for a good choice. You may pick old denim and wear a light-colored tee, shirt, kurta and throw a bandhani cape or shrug over it, or an old pair of harem pants with a loose shirt, belted around the waist, for that cool yet sassy look. A colorful bandana will complete it. Going traditional has its charm. A short kurta with Patiala salwar teamed with dupatta and silver accessories will always get noticed. My personal favorite is the six yards, with a bindi, colorful bangles and gajra in a loosely tied bun. Don't wear anything too fitted or clingy and remember to apply ample sunscreen to keep your skin protected.”

With white outfits you can introduce subtle hints of colour into your looks by draping a coloured dupatta or scarf