Sanjay Garg

He Is as Besotted by the Possibilities of the Loom, as He Is Put Off by Pseudo-intellectuals-gone-khadi. Behind Raw Mango, Garg Operates a Cluster of Sustainable Development Programs in Madhya Pradesh. Hello! Discovers Hidden Threads of Planetary Love in His Fashion
 

- Ankita Rathod

Sustainable living is the call of the day. Why do you think it’s important?

“Sustainability is no longer just a catchphrase in the world of fashion. It cannot be distinguished from a particular segment of society or culture. In today’s world, we have to be much more aware about the interdependence between events – from the farms that grow the fibres used in our clothing to climate change affecting crops. Today, we insist on a sustainable lifestyle – from what we consume, eat, wear, to the packaging we use. This movement comes from an inner desire to sustain the lifestyles we lead, in every facet, for a longer period of time. I see sustainability as the need of the hour.”

You believe in giving a unique identity to handwoven products, be it the transclucent silks of Chanderi and or say, your recent works with Benarasi brocade. How has this shaped up so far?

“Our label is not just about the designs, but a larger programme that supports the upliftment of an entire community by creating a new value for an existing, under-rated garment – the humble saree. Handloom sarees, though worn everyday by large numbers of women all over India, are relegated to having little scope for exploration or innovation. At Raw Mango, we have adapted traditional designs to make them simple, sophisticated and distinctly contemporary, thereby creating a fresh new aesthetic.”