Indian outfits have a unique place in the global platform. Known for their amazing styles and designs, they have created a special place in the hearts of many. It is their intricate design, pattern and motif sometimes which steals the show everywhere. Not just that these outfits never fail to flaunt the rich culture, heritage and history of India. India is a multicultural, multilingual country and therefore, you will find each region practicing its own culture with much pomp and show. There are several ways through which you can feel different cultures of India. Sometimes it is through food, sometimes it is through architecture, natural habitats, different festivals and sometimes through different outfits. For instance, we all know that saree is one of the most common Indian dresses worn by women. However, it varies from place to place, sometimes in terms of fabrics, whereas sometimes in terms of different draping styles. Maharashtra comes with its own saree draping style, Gujarat, West Bengal, Coorg, etc have their own way of draping a saree. These small details in different cultures, regarding different outfits make this country unique and diverse in its own way.
From this we also get to know one important thing and that is, Indian outfits are not just traditional, stylish and fashionable, rather they are also versatile, flexible, customisable and sustainable as well. In fact, Indian outfits are one of the most eco-friendly and sustainable options you will ever find in the fashion world. In this era of growing climatic change, it is high time that we switch to a sustainable lifestyle. When we speak of rapid climatic change, we must keep this thing in mind that the textile industry is playing a major role in the depletion of our ecosystem, all thanks to the fast paced fashion which is becoming a trend. We need to stop this and for that we need to opt for sustainable outfits. Indian outfits such as sarees, lehengas, salwar kameez and so on are some of the stylish, yet sustainable options you will ever find. Let us now have a look at some of the ways through which Indian outfits are promoting sustainability.
Sustainable Fabrics
First thing first, the fabrics used for designing Indian outfits are eco-friendly and sustainable. These fabrics are made up of raw materials like cotton, jute, wool and silk which are natural and biodegradable in nature. Since the time of the freedom struggle, hand spun outfits have been given immense importance. These hand spun outfits are also known as khadi outfits. The fabric used for making khadi outfits is the epitome of sustainability in the empire of Indian textile. They require less energy and water, as compared to other fabrics, such as synthetic and alike. Therefore, switching to khadi is one of the options to embrace sustainability.
Customisable
Indian outfits, be it Indian wedding dresses or Indo western outfits, are highly customisable in nature. It is because of their flexibility, that you can customise them according to your needs and create your own fashion statement. It is because of this reason, they can mingle well with the styles and designs of other cultures and Indo western attires are the trendiest examples of this. You just need certain elements which you can easily find in your wardrobe to create your own customised attire. For instance, if you have a lehenga set, however, you do not want to wear the set, rather you want to mix and match certain elements to customise it your way, then you can easily do that. You just need to mix and match the blouse, skirt and the dupatta from other Indian outfits, and you are done. Similarly, if you want to give it a modern, contemporary style, then you can wear the crop top and the skirt and pair them with an embellished jacket and an empire waist belt. The same you can do with salwar suits, sarees and so on.
Durable and versatile Last but not the least, it is the durability and versatility of the Indian outfits which make them a sustainable option. You must have heard people giving Indian outfits, such as traditional sarees and alike as family heirlooms to the next generations. Ever wondered, how a vintage saree, so old, is transferred to the next generation? Well, it is because the outfit is durable, versatile and never goes out of trend. Traditional sarees like Banarasi silk sarees, Kanjivaram silk sarees and so on remain always on trend, therefore, can be worn for years to come. Therefore, without dumping them in the dumpyard, you can give them a special place in your wardrobe. You can even customise them into a lehenga or a skirt set, if you wish to. This way, you can reduce the garbage waste and pollution to a great extent. All thanks to the high quality fabrics and the hard work of the craftsmen that we can wear them for years to come. Therefore, whether you have designer sarees or lehengas, do not throw them out, either repurpose them into different outfits or just pass them down to the next generation so that they can use them properly.
