India is in a unique position as the fashion industry transitions to a more sustainable future because of its rich cultural past, textile traditions, and important role as a worldwide resource for craftsmanship.
Discover below, 10 exquisite Indian sustainable fashion brands that beautifully showcase the country’s unique assets for everyone to admire.
What Lies Behind The Concept Of Ethical And Slow Fashion In India?
As a key player in the global garment industry, employing over 45 million people, fashion enterprises worldwide are well-acquainted with entrusting their creations to skilled Indian artisans. Almost every state in India boasts multiple craft clusters, each more distinct than the next. Regrettably, cultural globalisation has made traditional Indian artisanship susceptible to appropriation, resulting in the loss of intricate handicrafts that are now reduced to mere digital prints in mass-market reproductions.
This trend is directly affecting the incomes of artisans. Numerous individuals find it challenging to support themselves with a decent living wage, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.
Nevertheless, the expertise of Indian workers is not the sole asset they are recognized for. India is known as the leading producer of organic cotton globally, implementing regenerative farming techniques that are gaining momentum swiftly.
Considering these factors, we have found a diverse group of designers who are rejuvenating India’s delicate crafts, handwoven textiles, ancient techniques, and hand embroideries through their sustainable fashion brands. They are empowering artisan clusters nationwide. These designers are blending natural dyes, deadstock fabrics, plant-based fibres, and using processes that conserve water and energy. Read on to discover the 10 sustainable clothing brands from India that are worth exploring.
Where To Find Sustainable Fashion Brands Based In India
- No Nasties
As the name suggests, No Nasties is a vegan, organic, and fair trade clothing company whose main goal is to design clothes that are good for the environment and reduce the carbon footprint of everything they produce.
By funding offset initiatives like solar electricity, wind energy, forest preservation, and replanting, they accomplish this lofty objective. In order to determine their footprint, the brand has also hired Green Story, a third-party life-cycle analysis software that accounts for the supply chain, material composition, and fabric use for each product they produce.
A variety of enduring everyday basics for both men and women are available in airy organic cotton dyed with all-natural and herbal ingredients.
2. The Summer House
Look no further this season if you’re looking for apparel that will allow you to go from work to off-duty errands without compromising comfort or style. Everything you need for warm weather is in The Summer House.
The brand’s inspirational goal is to close the gap between traditional Indian workmanship and contemporary clothing. They accomplish this by collaborating with rural craftspeople to support and revitalise craft communities that are at risk and assist them in moving away from exploitative methods. To date, The Summer House has collaborated with 17 craft clusters throughout India to create unique textile designs and handcrafted clothing using organic materials.
3. Okhai
The empowerment of women is at the heart of what Okhai does in its commercial operations. The company sells handcrafted apparel and leisure items created by rural artists around the nation.
Its objective is to improve the economic and social status of women artisans from rural and disadvantaged communities by providing them with respectable work and reasonable living salaries. Their elaborately detailed apparel, which is fashioned in a wide range of vivid colours, reflects this noble endeavour.
4. The Terra Tribe
Expect a variety of classic cut feminine styles created from locally produced Tencel, complete with recycled metal accents, from a slow fashion firm that prides itself on producing high-quality clothing in small quantities.
The Terra Tribe’s earthy colour scheme, which was inspired by the Latin word for earth, truly embodies the meaning of the term. Iron vinegar, leaves, natural indigo, and Indian madder vines were used to dye these garments.
5. Sui
Sui, a slow fashion business that supports disadvantaged women in the handloom industry by collaborating with approved NGOs in India, was inspired by the Indian name for a needle.
Fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, linen, and other handwoven textiles are used to create each piece at Sui, which uses herbal dyes. Covetable warm-weather staples like this ‘gram-worthy dress and this embroidery-detail blazer that has us in awe are part of their current collection.
6. Grassroot by Anita Dongre
Anita Dongre, one of India’s most prominent designers, employs women artisans from rural areas who are the keepers of traditional Indian crafts to create her Grassroot label, which specialises in sustainable, ethically created apparel.
The Grassroots apparel line is as colourful as it is intricate, featuring traditional sarees, kurta sets and even a few dresses. These garments, which are hand-embroidered or dyed using age-old methods and adorned with elaborate thread work, will transport you to India in a traditional manner.
The finest aspect? Their pairs of kurtas can be worn separately with ease. For a boho, vacation-ready look, pair your side-slit kurta with denim shorts. For good measure, feel free to add some bangles as an accessory.
7. Oshadi
Known as aw-sh-dhi, the name Oshadi means the core of nature or a medicinal herb in Sanskrit, perfectly capturing their commitment to sustainability. The label originated as a women’s clothing brand in 2016 and has since evolved into a vertically integrated sustainable supply chain from seed to sew.
In order to further their goal of sustainable fashion, Oshadi uses regenerative farming methods to grow cotton and indigo on their property, restoring the nutrients in the soil. Nishanth Chopra, the founder of Oshadi, asserts that circularity prevents products from leaving the supply chain. It just keeps circling.
Any voids should be filled with anything that fixes, provides meaning, repurposes, rebuilds, and recreates relationships between people. Oshadi prioritises its humble mission and provides a selection of garments made of organic cotton that has been meticulously dyed.
8. Doodlage
The sole objective of the company Doodlage is to turn trash into clothing. They create timeless pieces with deadstock fabric that will forever change the way you think about “patchwork.”
Their silhouettes appear young and contemporary due to the way the designs flow together, and they bear little resemblance to your grandmother’s quilt. Instead of depending only on our word, let the Clara and Frida gowns speak for themselves.
9. Maati by Neha Kabra
Based in the charming city of Udaipur, Rajasthan, Maati designs basic everyday necessities that will win your heart with their subtle yet fashionable aesthetic. The business works with nearby communities to create unique handloom fabrics that are manufactured with minimal water and energy consumption.
These textiles are then treated with natural colours made from indigo plants, turmeric, and other flowers. Indigenous Rajasthani artisans who produce clothing have a sustainable means of subsistence thanks to fair compensation and respectable working conditions.
10. Nicobar
An ethical brand called Nicobar uses cupro modal, tencel, organic cotton, and recycled wool to make classic apparel. The business works with fair trade industrial partners to generate its products and makes its Merino wool scarves in small towns across the nation.
Since the company’s inception, they have effectively cut the amount of plastic used in their packaging by 85%, and they are constantly searching for ways to improve their business procedures. Everything you need for a classic evening look is included in their assortment of light wrap dresses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Indian fashion sector is seeing a noticeable shift towards sustainability and prefers sustainable materials like recycled polyester thread and polyester corespun thread. These top ten companies are spearheading this movement and setting new standards for ecological and ethical apparel. These companies’ emphasis on sustainable practices not only lessens their environmental impact but also encourages customers to make wise choices.
These companies are changing the direction of Indian fashion by using recycled and organic materials and encouraging ethical labour practices. As customers, we can choose to support eco-friendly brands in order to have a good impact. We can encourage the industry to adopt sustainable practices and lessen our individual environmental effect by choosing to buy from these brands. Let’s adopt sustainable fashion and strive for a more sustainable future.
