Guide Making Ethical Fashion Choice India

As Indians we are fortunate to have a rich legacy of textiles and garments. Our country also abounds in traditional techniques to treat garments, so why look outside? Many modern home-grown brands are transparent about their supply chain strategies. Brands that easily divulge information about their manufacturing processes and social responsibilities undertaken by them should be given preference.

When you are travelling to tourist places in India, always buy ethnic products made by local artists. This way you can directly transfer benefits to the artists while making ethical fashion choices.

Outfits, which display labels of developed nations like America or Australia, do not necessarily indicate adherence to standard pay scale. Although these countries have stricter labour laws many garment manufacturers in such countries hire migrant workers, sometimes even illegally and they are exploited for the profit of the garment maker.

                                                  

Shivam Punjya’s Behno is a contemporary women’s wear label designed in New York and it is exclusively produced in India in an ethical manner, in a factory in rural Gujarat. The ethical fashion label is striving to dispel the notion that garments ‘Made in India’ are inferior to those manufactured elsewhere.

The ‘Made in India’ brands are also offering a high end global platform to the arts hidden in the unknown, less travelled lanes of India.

                                                

Fashion is not just what meets the eye. It goes through a metamorphosis at different levels, before reaching the final consumer. Let’s just be more emotional and aware about what we wear and take comfort in the fact that it is beautiful all the way. When we have the privilege to choose, why not choose for a better world in our own small way.

 

The Rana Plaza collapse that occurred in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 24 April 2013 can be recalled as the most disastrous incident involving garment makers. The incident claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people working in the garment factory building. The tragedy threw light on the poor conditions of labour involved in creating attires for some the world renowned brands like Benetton and Mango. It also questioned the ethics of the fashion houses that outsource their work to these garment makers.

                
 

The International fashion labels have a responsibility to create ethical working conditions instead of giving rise to sweatshops. However as the end users do we have a responsibility towards ethical fashion? YES, and how can we make ethical fashion choices to curb the cruelty that hides beneath the beauty of fashion?

Here’s our guide to making ethical fashion choices in India-

India is a rising power in the global garment industry. Its garment sector has a highly scattered and complex structure. As consumers we can still keep a check and buy ethical fashion in this highly diverse market through following ways-

Know More About the Brands that Promote Fair Trade

Fair trade is a business certification that aims at giving fair wages and non-exploitative working conditions for the growers of fabric fibres. It can also extend to textile weavers and creators of exquisite hand embroidery on apparels. Fair trade gives importance to people and makes them the core for sustainability of business.

In India fair trade holds great importance for ethical fashion as it uses age-old handicraft techniques for attires. Embroideries like zardosi, chikankari, kanjeevaram and bandhani dyeing techniques are quintessential to creating ethnic Indian attires. These techniques require high skills and are labour intensive.

Many fashion designers and young entrepreneurs are endorsing the use of ancient Indian embroidery and dyeing techniques by giving fair employment opportunities to artisans based in rural areas. Some of the brands that are promoting sustainable fashion are FabIndia, Bhu:sattva, Do You Speak Green, Grassroot by Anita Dongre, Pero by Aneeth Arora, Aziio, Samtana, No Nasties, Mother Earth and others.

Raw Mango handwoven saree by Sanjay Garg

Anita Dongre’s Grassroot works towards preserving tradition, empowering women and using organic fibres and natural dyes. Do you Speak Green offers natural clothing using organic cotton and bamboo fabrics with eco friendly dyes and water based prints.

Fashion Designer Anita Dongre with rural artists 

Hidesign, the global brand for exclusive leather handbags uses vegetable tanning techniques. That makes its products 30% more expensive and they also take double the time to produce. The Hidesign factory also boasts of being eco-friendly by avoiding asbestos and using pure fired bricks.

Be Willing To Spend More for a Sustainable Product

The brands that sell ethical fashion goods face a huge conflict between their ideologies and consumer preference. Most of the consumers pay attention to pure aesthetics and are unaware of even the fabric type used in making the attire. The ethical fashion houses that focus on sustainability also have to deal with the pressure of making their products stand out aesthetically through the myriad cheaper choices available to the consumer. We need to change the consumer dynamics in India. We have to grow into an intellectual buyer who thinks beyond the look and price of the outfit.

                                                     

Creating ethical fashion needs time and effort. Educating ourselves about what we are holding close to our body must become priority. After all we will never want to beautify our selves at the cost of brutally killed animals, underpaid starving farmers and by irreversibly damaging the environment. Ethical fashion deals with higher production costs and as consumers we should be willing to go the extra mile to support businesses with sustainable ideologies.

Give Preference to Home-grown Brands

As Indians we are fortunate to have a rich legacy of textiles and garments. Our country also abounds in traditional techniques to treat garments, so why look outside? Many modern home-grown brands are transparent about their supply chain strategies. Brands that easily divulge information about their manufacturing processes and social responsibilities undertaken by them should be given preference.

When you are travelling to tourist places in India, always buy ethnic products made by local artists. This way you can directly transfer benefits to the artists while making ethical fashion choices.

Outfits, which display labels of developed nations like America or Australia, do not necessarily indicate adherence to standard pay scale. Although these countries have stricter labour laws many garment manufacturers in such countries hire migrant workers, sometimes even illegally and they are exploited for the profit of the garment maker.

Shivam Punjya’s Behno is a contemporary women’s wear label designed in New York and it is exclusively produced in India in an ethical manner, in a factory in rural Gujarat. The ethical fashion label is striving to dispel the notion that garments ‘Made in India’ are inferior to those manufactured elsewhere.

The ‘Made in India’ brands are also offering a high end global platform to the arts hidden in the unknown, less travelled lanes of India.

Fashion is not just what meets the eye. It goes through a metamorphosis at different levels, before reaching the final consumer. Let’s just be more emotional and aware about what we wear and take comfort in the fact that it is beautiful all the way. When we have the privilege to choose, why not choose for a better world in our own small way.

About Red Carter

Based on his experience in the sportswear kind, in 2004, Fashion designer Red Carter commenced his eponymous swimwear brand. The Fashion designer Red Carter collected works integrates healthy outline and purpose, merging delicate details, daring prints, and sophisticated practical productions, often ignored by swimwear designers.

Famous swimwear designer Red Carter display his swimwear collections in Miami.He also showcased his costumes in Mrecedes Benz Fashion Week with many other swimwear designers like Tibi with her beautiful color comibantion swimwear costumes, Ank By Mirla Sabino, White Sands Australia with complete collection  and so on.

                                                   

Well-known designer,Fashion designer Red Carter is recognized for his classy swimwear with an idea of a perfect vision and his catchy charm, exclusive design layout. Fashion designer Red Carter also has year of industry business understanding to the outrageously admired brand name that holds his name.

The achievement story of Fashion designer Red Carter is not an overnight story. Fashion designer Red Carter story is based on willpower, uphill struggle and artistic constrain of Fashion designer Red Carter. The aspirations of Fashion designer Red Carter have enlightened his temperament; he actually started in his youth in southern California. As a spirited athlete, Fashion designer Red Carter was a talented swimwear and diver as well. Additionally Fashion designer Red Carter entered in the entertainment industry on experimental basis. Performed on both the big and small screens, Fashion designer Red Carter proved that he was a celebrity from the start.    

                                                

 

Full of strength of mind and prosperity of experience in the pool and the public interest, Fashion designer Red Carter start out to learn at the Otis/Parson School of art and Design in Los Angeles. On his graduation, Fashion designer Red Carter got task of designing junior sportswear and active wear for Espirit. Before placing his imaginative aptitude to work at guess Jeans, Mossimo, Rampage, Victorias Secret, and Oscar de la Renta. Fashion designer Red Carter has organized to take advantage of his hard work, after the year of sponsorship from some of the finest in the business. 

After shifting to Miami in 2003, Fashion designer Red Carter rapidly became encouraged by his latest surrounding and enforced by the always existing energy and bold, Art Deco style. Fashion designer Red Carter instituted his brand in Miami to reproduce and improve the city’s growing imaginative strength.He has pariticipated in many fashion shows to be in the name of swimwear designers.

                                                     

Based on his experience in the sportswear kind, in 2004, Fashion designer Red Carter commenced his eponymous swimwear brand. The Fashion designer Red Carter collected works integrates healthy outline and purpose, merging delicate details, daring prints, and sophisticated practical productions, often ignored by swimwear designers.

                                                   

 

Fashion designer Red Carter swimwear is advertised domestically in enhanced department stores like Barneys New York, Intermix, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and Saks Fifth Avenue; moreover particularly boutiques in Europe and South America.

Presently, the brand of Fashion designer Red Carter distributes two seasonal swimwear compilations in a year, other than ready-to-wear and men’s swimwear.

Mostly super star models wear the best swimwear designs of Red Carter like Kate Moss, Lara Stone and Cindy Crawford etc.

Black Dress: Timeless Fashion Trends

                                                                             

                                                                             

Every girl who knows her fashion will know the importance of that black dress. Black dresses are the saviors to all those wobbly fashion moments that we have before a big night out; be it a romantic date, dinner with colleagues and clients or even just partying with your friends. When it doubt whip out the black dresses.

                                                                           

The thing with black is it’s formal, smart, slimming, sexy and a staple must have!
Long black dresses in a silk, chiffon or georgette are great for formal cocktails, a wedding and even a black tie event because they look elegant and refined.

                                                                         

I use the plural form, because it’s important to have more than just ONE! Sometimes you’ll need to own the long dresses, the short dresses, evening dresses and occasion dresses all in black.

The thing with black is its formal, smart, slimming, sexy and a staple that one must have! If you don’t own any black dresses then i am wondering what on earth you wear to those last minute events that pop up. 

                                                                              

Don’t get me wrong ladies, black dresses aren’t just for need or necessity; they come in as so incredibly handy for almost all the occasions and look fantastic as well. Different lengths and fabrics in dresses are what set them apart for wearing at different times. Granted, these dresses are not worn very often but you can always jazz them up with colourful accessories or even keep it sleek and simple with white or gold accessories.

                                                                                

Evening dresses can go either way, in terms of length. I think the black dresses are sophisticated and smart and can work for office drinks or an evening out with friends and family. Black dresses which are short in length are great for a night out. The hemlines are much shorter this year so prepare to bare in the little black dresses.

Traditional Sarees To Have On Your Wish List This Durga Puja – Unveal Your Devi Avatar

                                                   

The biggest carnival called “Durga Puja” in the City of Joy is round the corner. With Durga puja barely a month away, the markets, retail outlets and shopping malls are flooded with new arrivals and intriguing collection of ethnic and western wear, with eye-catchy designs and festive offers. Amidst this entire hullabaloo, Indian traditional saris remained timeless and hot favourite of bong beauties, especially when they are planning to deck up for this auspicious occasion.

                                                    

                                                   

The four days of the festival:

Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami are celebrated with utmost glee and unique style. Apart from its age-old traditions and rituals, Durga Puja also hints on traditional fashion vibes. The Indian traditional silk saris especially are a visual treat for fashion savvy ladies in the city. Take a quick view on the ideas presented below to make a classic Puja statement.

                                                    

Assam silk for daytime rituals on Saptami:

As you hear the call for aartis and anjalis, it’s time for you to deck up quickly, flock in the pandal or temple and pray to the Goddess of Shakti. Assam silk saris are timeless creations that can be admired and adored whenever you drape them. Doll up in a handloom silk sari from Assam to add zing to the holy rituals at the same time beware of cheap duplicate Assam silks flooded in the market and go for only the originals which range from Rs. 6000 onwards. Being light weight, you will feel comfortable wearing them. While Ma Durga is being invoked, bring out your ‘Devi’ avatar in style with a delicate touch from Assam!

                                                                        

                                                       

Benarasi handloom for a gorgeous Asthami night:

The enthusiasm multiplies on the Asthami night as the loved ones, relatives and tourists flock to the city and mingle with the charm of Durgotshav. The streets dazzle with colourful lights and lanes impress with astounding pandals. Do not miss the pandal hopping on Asthami night. So, spice up your look with a royal Benarasi silk sari embellished with detailed zari work and meenakari. Vibrant colors of the saris perfectly tune up with the festive bash. The latest in this are ethnic woven Dupion silks and tussars, budget Banswara saris, sensual nets and classy Katans and so on. 

                                                

 

                                                  

Exclusive Baluchari for a pious Navami:

Dressing in all red or in shades of red is a popular trend that women in Bengal particularly follow during the auspicious occasions. Navami is no exception. The sweet aroma of jasmines; swivelling of white Kans grass in the autumn breeze and the sound of dhak perfectly sets the mood for Navami. This fills hearts with fresh spirit to enjoy one more day to the fullest. Toast to the traditional way of celebrating the vibrancy of Durga Puja and dress up in an exclusive Baluchari sari to steal the spotlight. The rich art and culture reflected through this sari makes you so very bong!

                                                   

 

                                                  

Enjoy party glitz with Katan Silk Saree on Dashami:

Parities, family gatherings, community lunch, famous Bengali Adda – the festive season calls for loads of merry making and fun time. You would be a part of many such fun moments. So, radiate your feminine charm this time with an elegant Katan silk woven in quality resham and designed with golden zari. Traditional white and red Korial silk from Benaras is one such mush have. For modern women few contemporary master pieces are worth collecting. The traditional royal touch makes these sari a haute to wear!

                                                

Be it a teenager or a woman in her 30s, they want to dress up like Paro or Parineeta during the festival, take part in puja rituals and grab the attention of the maddening crowd sweeping across every nook and corner of Kolkata.