Slow Fashion in India

What is Slow Fashion?

Slow Fashion is an awareness approach to fashion. It mindfully considers the processes and resources required to make clothing, particularly focusing on sustainability. It involves sourcing and buying natural fiber clothing, better-quality garments that will last longer and production of which values fair treatment of people, animals and our planet in a holistic approach. In other words, Slow Fashion is exact opposite of Fast Fashion.

Why Slow Fashion?

Slow Fashion clothes are timeless and durable pieces that most of the time transcends seasons. Slow Fashion brands bring out limited clothing lines, which are paced far and wide, made from high quality, sustainable materials.

The concept of slow fashion is to encourage the use of locally produced, biodegradable fabrics, which have little to no adverse effects on the environment.

Whereas trendy Fast Fashion brands are all about constantly churning out new clothing range, as fast as possible to keep on top of global trends without considering its long-term impact on the planet.

Slow Fashion in Indian scenario

Slow Fashion is making its presence known now, more than ever before. With the world being at the brim of ecological crisis and environmental hazards, it is important to take steps now to undo the damage of the past years on this planet and secure a world for the generations to come.

India with her mammoth population and rising economy always was a production-based country. Due to this, India is directly impacted by overproduction that leads to excessive consumption of chemicals, pollution of water resources, exploitation of labour, unequal standards of living and product waste. While the West realised the importance of conscious consumption sometime ago, India is only inching towards the mindful consumption. India with its age-old rich culture and heritage always led a sustainable way of living until our western counterparts induced cheap and fast trends.

We must rewind ourselves by two generations and study our lifestyle in India. Indians led a sustainable life in true sense with limited wants, use of available natural raw materials , non – toxic products for daily needs, buying quality products when needed, supporting local produce, recycling old and repurposing whats not needed anymore was our way of living. We just have to revisit those values and adopt them for mindfulness in every aspect of life to lead slow living.

Today, when pandemic has created havoc in our economy ,its required more than ever to understand and choose Slow Fashion. When you choose Slow fashion clothing over Fast fashion ones you are responsible and conscious about your environment. You are directly supporting the small businesses that locally source and produce. You are helping revive and support local artisans and handicrafts. You are acknowledging and encouraging fair trade. Going Slow is the way to go.