With a new year comes new resolutions! While most of them are limited to the health, self-care or relationships realm. Very rarely do they ever cross into the territory of fashion, especially when it comes to fundamental changes in our consumption patterns? Let’s face it! Fashion is the most water polluting industry after chemicals, this deserves a thought or two on our part to make some changes to preserve the beautiful planet we live on!
So here are 5 resolutions we propose for the year 2019. Now we know change isn’t easy and it will be a while before any of these resolutions actually convert into habits. But we all have to start somewhere and a small step in the right direction is better than sitting on your ass and wishing got things to turn around. So here it goes!
LIMITED CONSUMPTION OF FAST FASHION
Fast Fashion is the major contributor to fashion based pollution. Fast fashion can be characterized by cheap clothes which adapt the latest trends from the runway and the celebrity circuit and make it available in stores for a fraction of the cost. The emphasis is neither on craftsmanship nor quality and is rather on producing multiple trends cycles at neck-break speed. What does this account to? Exploitation of workers, shoddy manufacturing and disposing procesand rise in the junk levels in the landfills. Zara, H&M, Vero Moda, Gap etc are prime examples of Fast Fashion. While giving up on fast fashion altogether maybe too much for some of you, limiting consumption by even 25% is a great start!
LOOK FOR SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING
In the past couple of years, there has been a rise in the number of sustainable brands. Going against the grain, many young designers are taking up sustainable, fair trade and upcycled methods of manufacturing garments. Pero, Bodice, Doodlage and many others are prime examples of this category. These brands are attempting to undo some of the damage done by Fast Fashion and deserve some appreciation in return. Purchasing from sustainable brands will create demand and force more brands to follow this route.
UPCYCLE & REUSE
Next step is to repurpose your old clothes! Wearing an outfit only once is not only an impractical trend to follow but also a stupid one, with hazardous effects on the environment. You can go the DIY route by reworking your old pair of denim into shorts, dresses into retro co-ords or even old t-shirts into grocery bags. If you want something more upscale. Brands such as Doodlage, Pero, House of Wandering Silk will all be right up your ally. These labels create gorgeous designs which not only has a positive impact on your style quotient, but also the planet we inhabit.
MAKE YOUR OWN CLOTHING
One of the reasons the consumption is growing is the ease and the speed at which fast fashion makes clothing available. Making your own clothes brings down the pace immensely. Now we are not suggesting you buy a sewing machine and literally make all your clothes (But kudos if you can!)What we mean by making your own clothes is, sourcing the material from local, sustainable, fair trade bundaars or vendors, coming up with your design, finding a tailor and producing a final product that is a reflection of you, through and through. This practice is not new to the country; many from our older generations visited the local darzee to get shirts, salwar-kameez, suits etc made to order. It’s time we revive this tradition.
MAKE YOUR OWN RULES
In an era where Instagrammers or so-called ‘influencers’ throw images of hyper-consumption at you almost every other minute, it can be hard not to get swept away. It is easier to follow the herd than forge your own path. This year, give a damn to what you “should” be doing and go against the current. Find styles that resonate with your personality. It doesn’t matter if it is in vogue or not! Remember, it’s you who makes the rules, and it is you who will break them!
