When actress Alia Bhatt won the National Award for Best Actress for her role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, she also won many hearts by making a planet-positive fashion statement. For the Awards ceremony, she chose the same ivory Sabyasachi sari that she wore at her wedding with actor Ranbir Kapoor last year.
Dropping pictures from the event on her Instagram story, Alia urged her fans to “re-wear, repeat and recycle” outfits for special occasions, and wrote, “What’s special once, can be special again.”
Fashion forward
Repeating outfits is a positive step toward sustainability in the fashion industry, and even celebrities can make eco-conscious choices. Alia Bhatt’s choice resonates with her fans. Designer Renesa Rastogi of the fashion label RCKC Aurum believes it is cool to reuse outfits and not overthink your look every single time you leave the house. She says, “Rather than buying low-quality pieces and generating waste just for the sake of having a new look for every event, it is important to normalize repeats. Some outfits hold sentimental value, like wedding attire, making them significant choices for special occasions. Celebrities re-wearing their outfits helps break the stigma around wearing the same clothes multiple times, encouraging others to do the same. Alia Bhatt’s choice demonstrates that a fashion-forward approach can also be environmentally conscious and authentic. It’s not just cool; it's a statement about values and style that we can all admire.”
She adds that Alia’s decision could be a catalyst for change in the fashion industry, prompting designers and brands to prioritize sustainable practices.”
Timeless statements
Instead of buying something new and trend-based, it’s better to re-contextualise and re-imagine some key pieces in your closet, feels Manish Mishra, fashion writer and digital creator. He says, “Repeating and restyling pieces is the easiest and practical way to be sustainable. And, the fact that Alia Bhatt restyled her wedding look at the National Awards event shows that even celebrities want to embrace eco-conscious choices. Moreover, the sari lends itself beautifully and effortlessly to various looks and settings. Globally Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Cate Blanchett repeat and restyle their looks all the time.”
Being mindful
For a true fashion lover, repeating a pre-loved outfit never loses its charm, and trendsetters across the globe are often seen re-styling their favourite pieces for special public appearances. Ruby Bhatia, stylist, and digital creator, says, “I am glad that Alia repeated and wrote about repeating an outfit as it sends across a great message. What’s worth noticing is that she chose the perfect occasion to re-wear her wedding sari. Getting a National Award is a milestone event just like her wedding, and wearing the same outfit means it holds a sentimental value for her. As a stylist, I believe in repeating outfits too, especially a two or three-piece ensemble that can be mixed and matched differently to create new looks. Not only does it save money, it also stops one from buying extra clothes.”
