We all know that organic produce like vegetables and even honey, are being grown on a large scale in the city, but Indian textiles and prints have taken a contemporary twist — organic and recycled fabrics are trending high this summer! We find a few exhibitions in the city, which are displaying such couture, and speak to the stores or owners about their collections, how recycled fashion is picking up, how the livelihood of artisans has improved after giving them a platform to showcase their skills and more.
These upcycled textiles have multiple purposes — clothes are just one of them; jewellery too can be made and even home décor and bags. Head to the Mulmul Mela, set to happen in Amethyst on April 2 and 3, organised by a Delhi-based brand The Shop. Founder Kabir tells us, “The exhibition is all about mulmul, a summery and light fabric that we specialise in. We’ve made it even softer using a process called discharge printing,” he says. The collection will include women’s clothing, home furnishings like bedspreads, cushion covers, table clothes as well as bags. “While making these products, a lot of fabric goes to waste. Instead of disposing them, we sew tiny pattis (bits) onto cushion covers or bags, thereby adding some quirk, but with a purpose,” tells us Kabir adding, “Dyeing and processing any fabric also takes up a lot of water, so instead of throwing it away, we treat and reuse it.”
The Shop also provides employment to many rural master craftsmen and works closely with NGOs in North India. “All the fabrics we source, come from remote villages in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and other states. This helps generate employment and improve the livelihood of weavers,” explains Kabir.
Chennai-based entrepreneur Neesha Amrish’s venture Aeshaane is also environmentally conscious in multiple ways — “We make organic silk garments whereby silk worms are not killed. It’s also called ahimsa silk. The ultimate product doesn’t have as much luster as Kanjeevaram silks, but that’s what makes our products unique,” says Neesha. During this process too, scraps of cloth went to waste, but she found a perfect solution — jewellery! “Yes, I use these leftover bits to make statement jewellery, and attach kemp (temple) elements to it, like what Bharathanatyam dancers use.
Celebrities like Shobhaa De, Sarika Madhavan and others have been seen sporting her sarees and jewellery. “I have a huge market in the West because they understand sustainable clothing. For them, a product has to be environment-friendly — so they buy based on the product and not the brand. In India, it’s exactly the opposite! However Chennai’s market is growing and my customers have always been very supportive,” says Neesha, who’s currently in Mumbai to showcase her work at the Lakme Fashion Week. She too supports nearly 10 rural families, by providing them platforms to showcase their crafts.
