Crafting Cultural SUSTAINABILITY

The changemakers of design navigate the discourse of fashion and craft in search of cultural continuity. Shivpriya Bajpai presents their thoughts

- Shivpriya Bajpai

Despite mainstream conversations on centuries-old craft practices rooted in sustainability, fashion still continues to miss the bigger picture of financial and cultural security. It boils down to the questions about the exploitation of people and natural resources. In our quest to seek answers, we speak with four such community-driven fashion designers who take us through the layered complexities of craft and culture.

INTEGRATED SUPPLY CHAIN

It's imperative for indigenous craftsmanship to warm up an innovative approach without ever losing its real essence. Designer Anavila Misra, who is known for championing traditional Indian drapes, explains, "The linen sari is a relatively modern concept introduced by us a few years ago. It is handwoven with a foreign yarn. When I am adding this artisanal language and collaborating with craftsmen, so many factors merge-foreign yam, an Indian handloom, an Indian artisan, and an Indian craft that is contemporized. The end result then becomes a global product." For Jaipur-based circular fashion label Iro Iro's founder Bhaavya Goenka, groundwork on waste management and building equitable partnerships with her artisans form the core ethos. "We incorporate the 40-year-old technique of weaving extra weft from wool, called pattu, to weave from waste. We utilise weaving on four-shaft looms to make blankets called 'khes' to make softer textiles."

IMPACT ON CRAFT CLUSTERS