THE SUSTAINABLE SHAADI
This wedding season, make a conscious choice and opt for sustainable bridal wear as fashion experts tell us what’s sustainable this season
Akshataht Shetty e
We have entered a year, where sustainable fashion is high priority. Not just for designers but for consumers as well. And with the onset of the wedding sseason, it is only fair to start the bridal wear shopping with a different approach. Weddings in India are considered a huge market in terms of revenue. Having said that, fashion designers who love designing the best for brides to be, are encouraging them to opt for sustainable yet chic choices for their wedding. “Sustainable fashion is the need of the hour and with rapid awareness and global concern about the environment, the new age bride is a responsible one. Also weddings are no longer about glitz and bling, because brides want to wear clothes which are breathable, light weight and sophisticated. Which is why they opt for fabrics such as mul, summer silk, muga, tussar or even regenerated fabrics such as viscose for the easy breezy vibe,” says fashion designer Shruti Sancheti.
Fashion designer Pooja Shroff is also of the opinion that today’s millennials have become much more conscious about the environment than the previous generation, which has coaxed the fashion industry to cater to their need for an eco-friendly way of dressing. “I believe that choosing organic fabrics for making silhouettes that can easily adapt to heh ever-changing versatile trends is a uniquely creative way. It will take this industry to a new direction, where we will be exploring endless opportunities of helping our planet and yet stay relevant,” adds Shroff.
REVIVING TRADITIONS
Though we all love checking out what’s trending, one of the easiest ways to be sustainable could be by not indulging in trend based fashion on a regular basis. For Sama Ali, creative director at House of Kotwara, there has been a revival of Indian weaves in bridal fashion as part of their latest collections. She also suggests that one can use existing fabrics that they have inherited from their grandparents or their mothers and use them for their bridal sets. “For example, one can use the brocade saris that they used to wear and can be recycled to create trousseau pieces, as they not only have an emotional value but are decreasing the consumerism. The other aspect of sustainability is keeping traditions on-going and giving jobs to artisans who have been keeping the traditions of weaves alive for generations and generations,” says Ali.
BE KIND REWIND
Picking up a ready sustainable outfit from a designer — who creates garments which are high on sustainability and stand strong to the zero- waste approach — is also something a bride-to-be could do. “Our patchwork lehengas are made from waste fabrics generated in our own studio. We have a small box named ‘Iraada’ in which we collect all the waste pieces of fabrics and materials which are then used to make jackets and bridal lehengas. We also make patchwork skirts that add a contemporary form of element and opens opportunities for the bride to choose and use it for their cocktail or mehendi function,” says fashion designer Priyanka Raajiv.
While the wedding festivities last a day, the impact it has on the environment lasts forever. So, this year, if you are a bride-tobe, we hope you make a conscious effort through your sustainable choices and set an example for all the brides out there.