Trying as the current times are, they sure have helped us with an important lesson: the current pace of our lifestyles, in general, is highly unsustainable. Just two weeks of lockdown in the country have effectively proved it. With us sitting at homes and not plundering all that lies at our easy disposal, nature has started replenishing itself in no time–the air quality if fast improving, and you can literally look up at the sky and trace constellations with a significant dip in the pollution levels.
However, there’s also a darker side to the story. Like all other industries, as the fashion industry crumbles under the looming shadow of coronavirus scare, it is the artisans and those who create all that’s fashionable for us who are worst-affected by this crisis. With garment factories shut down for indefinite periods and a significant dip in product demand, so many of these artisans remain out of jobs as of today.
Keeping these things in mind, we think it is high time that we switch to sustainable fashion. It is also time that we get mindful of how each one of our choices, fashion included, impact the environment way more adversely than we can fathom. Right from toxic dyes that end in our water bodies to automated industries that have shorn the artisans of their due and livelihood, fast fashion has been effectively ruining our environment as well as artisan communities for decades now. Clear as it is, sustainable and ethical fashion should be the way forward once the pandemic is dealt with. And before you try and contest it by pointing that sustainable fashion is either too expensive or not too fashionable, here are seven Indian brands that are sure to change your mind with their chic offerings under 5k:
Nicobar
With its assortment of sustainably made statement wear, Nicobar offers you comfortable clothing that is really stylish. Right from their silhouettes to quirky prints, Nicobar has created its own niche in the Indian apparel industry over the years. With a dedicated focus on organic cotton and recycled material for both accessories and apparel, this brands offers you some really interesting picks in its arsenal at a decent price point.
No Nasties
If you happen to know a sustainability enthusiast then chances are that you have already heard them going all gaga about No Nasties. I mean, who wouldn’t at that price point and quality of apparel? With the ideology of ‘Easy on the eyes, easy on the planet’ at its very core, the brand is constantly supporting cotton farming villages in India by providing them with a dependable source of income. As the name suggests, the aesthetics of the label revolve around fuzz-free bohemian silhouettes that are as pleasing as they are comfortable.
The Summer House
Isn’t it hard to find occasion wear that is also sustainable? The Summer House is sure to change your mind! All their fabrics come from an environment that doesn’t abuse the Earth and don’t be surprised if you come across something called econyl, a sustainable fabric made from fishing nets that have been harvested from the sea. As for the design, you wouldn’t have to think twice before putting on their dress before a fancy brunch where you are sure to get compliments for the luxe outfit. All of this and more can be easily found for a price under 5k at their website.
Doodlage
With the mission of zero-wastage at the core of its business idea, Doodlage retrieves left-over, discarded fabrics from large scale manufacturers and make use of them in their eccentric designs instead of letting them add to a landfill. Besides that, the brand constantly collaborates with like-minded NGOs and uses only ethically sourced fabrics. And before you get some other idea, the garments are as premium as they get and come with rather lucrative price tags.
B Label
Seeking a sustainable swap for your everyday budget clothing? B Label has to be your brand. With a collection of sustainable clothing starting at as low as Rs. 1000, this is a brand that is sure to hit the mark for the conscious fashionista. Regarded as the future of the sustainable fashion industry, hemp fabric forms the core of the design aesthetics at B Label as they try to give the fabric a more established place in the industry.
Forty Red Bangles
Who said you cannot go sustainable with the fashion choices that you make for home wear? And just in case you had any confusion here, Forty Read Bangles is sure to convert you for good. The brand uses organically sourced material and is known for outsourcing elements of production and design to artisan groups to support them and produce one-of-a-kind designs. They have the cutest, most comfortable pajama sets, travel pants, and kaftans in their collections, all of this super pocket friendly and super sustainable.
The Pot Plant
With natural fabrics and congenial clothing at the centre of its brand ethos, The Pot Plant is known for its anti-fit designs and asymmetrical silhouettes. The brand’s aesthetic ideology hinges on the ideas of conscious dressing and mindful living and if some eccentric albeit comfortable clothing pieces are what you seek at pocket-friendly prices, then this is just the brand for you.
Lastly, remember that sustainability is not a choice but a necessity right now. Also, what’s really fashion but a set of style choices that are approved and adopted by its most articulate followers? How about all of us join hands and make sustainability the most approved fashion trend that ever was?
Featured Image: Instagram
