We should all be feminists. True. But what does feminism even mean? Feminism believes that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men in all areas - social, economic, or political. And why shouldn’t they? If you are a woman reading this, chances are you agree and identify as a feminist too! So, here’s a question – if you are a feminist shouldn’t your life choices, including your fashion choices, be aligned with your feminist values? Copyright AP Photo/Altaf Qadri Did you know that about 80% of the workers in the garment industry are women, and most of them are young? In Bangladesh, the second-largest clothing exporter globally, the official minimum wage for a worker is 12,500 taka ($113 or ₹ 8,950). Not only does this amount fall short of a decent living wage, but many workers are not paid even this much. They have to work overtime, often without pay. And it gets worse. Their working conditions are pathetic; they don’t get any health benefits, are often abused and m...

Everywhere in the news, we've been reading about the ongoing COP26 summit in Glasgow. It is considered a really important event to bring climate change under control. Let's understand what is it all about and how can we be a part of this as an individual. Let's start with the basics....... COP stands for Conference of the parties, and  26 means it is the 26 th meeting COP26 event is an annual conference attended by the world leaders that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCC ) in 1992. 196 countries are members to it. This year's conference is happening in Glasgow, which started on October 31 st and will go on until 12 th November. It is being attended by politicians and people in power. The main agenda of this conference is to figure out how to slow down global warming and decide on how to prevent temperatures from rising above 1.5celsius. We are already seeing floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, rising world hunger, wa...

  Italian luxury fashion house Gucci drops a range of sneakers crafted from its proprietary eco-friendly and vegan material Demetra .  Demetra, named in homage to Greek agricultural goddess Demeter, is composed of "77 percent plant-based raw materials" including bio-based polyurethane from corn and wheat, viscose, and sustainably sourced wood compounds. Produced in Italy, it took Gucci two years of research and development to perfect the Demetra textile and the company has filed for its patents and trademarks. For now, Gucci will be using Demetra to craft their own in-house products, however by 2022 the company plans to open access to Demetra to the fashion industry. The 'Basket', 'Rhyton', and 'New Ace' are Gucci’s first shoes to be partially crafted from Demetra, demonstrating the textile’s leather-like properties. Unfortunately, Gucci has not disclosed a complete list of materials used in these sneakers on their website, so it's hard to say if a...

  Most people think cotton is a very sustainable fabric, and I can see why. Cotton is a natural fiber that is breathable, renewable and biodegradable. Old cotton can also be easily recycled to make new yarn and fabric. It has been used for centuries, is one of the most widely used fabrics and also a widely traded commodity on the global markets. It has become an inevitable part of our lives. No wonder it is often referred to as the "fabric of our lives". Sorry to break your heart, but cotton is not as clean as we all believe. While cotton is a natural and biodegradable material, the problem is with how it is grown. Conventional cotton production methods are environmentally unsustainable. 

  Sustainability has become a hot topic everywhere. A surfeit of brands that are calling themselves sustainable or eco-friendly have recently flooded the market, behemoths like Unilever, Zara, H&M, are launching sustainable products and collections. Magazines, newspapers, and digital publications are all about tips and tricks to incorporate sustainability into your lifestyle. Whether it is switching to a zero-waste shampoo barm choosing a bamboo toothbrush, buying sneakers made from recycled plastic waste, or using reusable bags for your grocery shopping, there are plenty of products and ideas to inspire you to make conscious chocies. This is great news, and I believe we are living in exciting times because finally people are accepting the impact of climate change and are aware of the consequences of their choices. But at the same time, so much information can be overwhelming for some. Plus, there is a lot of pressure to be perfect. As a consequence, many people end up not doin...

Too many clothes and nothing to wear? This is a battle fought by most of us nearly every day of our lives. The compelling habit of shopping is too hard to resist. Easy access to cheap clothing {fast fashion}, coupled with irresistible deals (think discount codes, free shipping with free returns) makes things worse. The temptation even leads us into buying things we don't need. Result? Our wardrobes are bursting with clothes, expensive real estate is wasted on cheap fashion items, we have piles of things with the tags still on..... and a planet that's suffering. The abundance of fast fashion has created an environmental and social justice crisis. We have a serious problem of rising landfills due to textile waste (where do you think all your clothes go when you discard them?), unavailability of clean water and clean air, and rising pollution. Of course, there are other issues. Fast fashion = low quality, cheap clothing, but someone is paying the cost for us. Yes, I mean t...

  I have to admit, I am a sucker for sunglasses. Sunglasses are one of the most versatile accessories - we all have them and love them. I am guilty of having over a dozen pairs, some from before I started my sustainable journey and a few after. A good pair of sunnies can totally change the vibe of an outfit instantly upgrading it from drab to fab. Wouldn't you agree?  It's a well-known fact that vast areas in our oceans are literally filling up with plastic. Everything we buy is either wrapped in plastic or made from plastic or actually both. Sunglasses are no exception. I've been vocal about the plastic problem in our wardrobes . However, most of that conversation has always been about the clothes.  Have you ever thought about what are your eyewear made of and what are they packaged in? Yup, you guessed it right. The answer is plastic.  Most of the eyewear in the market, even from luxury brands, are crafted from plastic and materials that harm the environment. These...

Last updated: 25th June 2020 ‘ Sustainable fashion ’ aren’t just buzzwords but its the need of the hour and the future of fashion. We are consciously damaging our planet and it turns out a lot of it has to do with the way we produce and consume things. How? In case you didn’t know already, fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world.  The good thing is, we are living in interesting times where technology and innovation have given us access to materials that we never thought possible. However, at the same time, consumerism and mass production is damaging our planet and exploiting the people involved in making the beautiful clothing and accessories we wear. It is time to give some thought to how our fashion choices affect the lives of so many people and our planet and start making a change. The exploitation of labor has been going on for decades, but after the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, on 24th April 2013, the dark side of the fashion industry finall...

We've heard of cork leather, then came pineapple leather (aka Pinatex) and now let me introduce you to Apple Leather. Yes, a leather-like material made from apples - no kidding!  In fact, I have a  vegan handbag  in my wardrobe made from apple leather.   Every time I tell someone my handbag is made from leather, their reaction starts with utter disbelief slowly turning into surprise and awe. When you touch this bag, from Polish brand Alexandra K, it's hard to tell it is not real leather because it looks and feels like one. When Alexandra Kościkiewicz launched her eponymous handbag line in 2014, the goal was to offer luxurious, timeless cruelty-free accessories that were at par{or better} in terms of quality but was more accessibly priced than the typical, 4-figure designer handbag. Fast-forward 2020, we can see she definitely attained her goal. Her line of elegant and chic bags not only look stylish but are really well-made.  Alexandra uses a variety of veg...

Leather's environmental impact is often misplaced. If you thought that leather is better than its synthetic alternatives because it is a “natural” material that will eventually decompose, think again. Every leather item in your wardrobe not only comes with cruelty but also bears a hefty price-tag for the planet. The livestock industry is responsible for nearly 15% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and contributes significantly to deforestation. People often forget how toxic the leather tanning process could be for the planet and workers. An animal decomposes when it’s natural. However, for the leather material to last, the animal skin undergoes a lot of chemical treatments, after which it isn’t going to decompose in your wardrobe. These workers who process leather are often victims of deadly diseases, respiratory illness, and skin conditions due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Animal cruelty, usage of chemicals, cutting down of rainforests and fires to clear forests f...

The sustainability conversation in the fashion industry has moved from sidelines to the frontline in last few years. From fashion influencers & journalists to human rights & eco activists and ethical brands everyone is advocating for a more sustainable fashion industry, inspiring many to switch to a planet-friendly wardrobe. Congratulations if you have decided to make your wardrobe more sustainable! There must a million questions on your mind - what should I do with my existing wardrobe? Should I give away everything that is not sustainable - those polyester dresses and PVC bags? Do I need to start shopping from sustainable brands? Where can I learn about sustainable fashion brands? If you're not sure where or how to start your journey, that's okay. We've all been there when we started and are still learning and growing everyday. Don't be overwhelmed and remember you don't have to be perfect from day one or ever. But you need to be mindful of your choi...

“#PAYUP FASHION INDUSTRY” In times of crisis, it is the most vulnerable people in society who suffer the most impact. This is the situation currently for the millions of workers in the fashion industry who make our clothes, shoes, bags, etc, most of them women. Irony is that, in this time of need, the fashion industry is failing its workers. According to Fashion Revolution, its common practice in fashion industry for brands to pay their suppliers months after delivery. So suppliers pay upfront for the materials used to make products, incurring cost while waiting for incoming payments. Now, with the chaos created by the corona virus pandemic major fashion brands are cancelling orders & stopping payments, shirking responsibility towards its global supply chain, even when the work has already been done. Of course, even the brands are in crisis but they can’t shift the financial burden onto the supply chain, especially when most have reported hundreds of millions of dollars (so...