We have to educate people

Fashion designer Gaurang Shah, feels one needs to be conscious of the environment. “Slow fashion is all about using local materials, artisans and resources whenever possible and trying to support the development of local trades and talents,” he explains.

Elaborating about the viability of slow fashion in this age of rapidly changing trends, he says, “It is in this age that we need slow fashion. It not only encourages us to take time to ensure quality from design-to-production, but also lends value to the product. To achieve the goal of slow fashion transformation, it is important to reboot the mindsets of the people and rethink the way we look at everything, including fashion.”

So where does India stand in relation to it? “If we remove the invasion of the power loom, we were always a country with slow fashion and traditional textiles. It is heartening to note that there is a slow and steady growth in slow fashion as people have begun to love traditional textiles. Also, the way they are handcrafted by artisans using traditional weaving techniques and natural dyes in an eco-friendly manner is encouraging,” he shares. According to Gaurang, in order to promote slow fashion, everyone has to understand, imbibe and follow it. “We have to educate the people at each stage; it is also essential to build a conversation around slow fashion with designers, producers, retailers and consumers,” he concludes.