In the chase of flimsy trends, the hedonistic wind-up clock of modern couture resets itself almost immediately. The industrial supply chain uses copious amounts of fossil fuels, water, and crops to bring a single T-shirt to your door, but only a dismal 12% of the used clothing is recycled. Of course, the remaining 92 million tonnes of textile trash are disposed of annually in landfills.
Next-generation shops, who were accustomed to producing more than 600 new styles each week, are suddenly applying the emergency brakes to the fever dream of fast fashion in response to its horrendous carbon impact. Modern customers are gradually demanding increased openness in relation to safe labour practises and the sourcing of raw materials as a result of the domino effect caused by the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh more than 10 years ago, a tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 1,100 garment workers.
Let’s explore the histories of 5 such trailblazing companies that, with their closed-loop fabrics and ethical design principles, are reshaping the ethical fashion landscape in India.
This PETA-approved lifestyle company invented a revolutionary line of footwear, wallets and purses made from plant-based vegan fibres including Piatex, which is made from recycled pineapple leaves. A Big Indian Story, a D2C firm based in Pune, has also experimented with other eco-friendly textiles like hemp, Texon (made from cellulose wood pulp), cactus leather, and apple skin leather. This brand collaborates with local craftsmen to reimagine traditional kilim embroidery in its custom items, ensuring fair trade pay and secure working conditions.
