june'21 - july'21 the a-z of fashion waste

Illustrated by Riya Singh

 27
07
41
CARE REPAIR REWEAR

MENDING

FASHION WASTE FABRIC SYMBOLS

WHY WASTE? FABRIC GUIDE

BUYING HABITS
WHY DO PEOPLE
Q&A WITH SUSS
DISCARD CLOTHES?

COLLECTIVE GOOD

19 35
STAIN REMOVAL

45
RETAIL THERAPY

BINGE SHOPPING BROKEN IS BEAUTIFUL

BUY LESS DIY TUTORIAL

Illustrated by Riya Singh

CHOOSE WELL REFLECT PLAYLIST
PLAY-DAY
WARDROBE DETOX GLOSSARY

HOW TO AVOID END NOTE

SHOPPING
How is fashion
wasted?

We know that metal straws save turtles,

but would you change your fashion
consumption habits to save the world?
Written by Gabija Janickaite | Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi

05
 If you don’t live under a rock,
by now, most of us are aware
that the fashion industry has
been playing one of the biggest
parts in the dangerous game of
global warming and pollution.
In fact, it is such a serious issue,
multiple studies suggest that by
2050 if we continue the same
shopping habits, we will need
equivalent to three planets in
order to sustain our current
consumerism lifestyle.
Where is the issue?
The waste. We have become
consumption dependant as we
buy 60% more and keep the
garments half as long but having
a lack of understanding of the
danger that we are really buying
into.
BEFORE THE
GARMENT REACHES
YOUR WARDROBE,
IT HAS ALREADY
Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi
PRODUCED AROUND
35% OF MATERIAL
WHY WASTE? WASTE DURING ITS
PRODUCTION!
Once upon a time, in a land close to everybody’s home, clothes lived forever. Ok, maybe not
The waste created by fashion is
forever. Life is not a fairy tale, but much, much longer. The art of recycling, upcycling and
destroying not only the quality
transforming to prolong our belongings’ longevity is as old as we are. It informs our lifestyle.
of our life but also decreasing
food, design, art and fashion. When things had value, we kept them, we consumed them.
the wildlife population, and in
Now, we frequently don’t. It’s time to look back and move forward. the next 40 years, we may see a
TAKE A DEEP BREATH, SLOW DOWN. 60% fall in species…. I guess no
more turtles…
06
So how is fashion wasted? WHY DO PEOPLE
Washing DISCARD CLOTHES?
Each time you wash a garment,
a single piece of clothing can In 2016, WRAP conducted
produce around 1,900 fibres some consumer research
per wash, however, for every to ask why people dispose
100,000 people up to 110kg of of clothing. The main
microfibres are released into reasons identified were:
the local waterways and oceans
DAILY, which is equivalent to
15,000 plastic bags. That then
can enter food chains and
therefore, we end up eating the
very thing we waste. (42%)
the clothing didn’t fit
ONLY 10% OF
ACCUMULATED WASTE
IS RECYCLED AND 8%
RE-USED AT
(26%)
SECONDHAND CLOTHING the clothing wasn't liked
STORES.
Landfill
Each year, worldwide we
generate around 39 million (9%)
tonnes of post-consumer textile
the clothing was worn out
waste and 57% of that ends
up in a landfill, 25% will go to
incineration.
However, there are some
clothes that still don’t get re-
used, therefore, the percentage (7%)
going into landfill continues to the clothing wasn't needed
grow. anymore
07
Are you in
need of some
retail therapy?

retail therapy
noun [ U ]
ree · teil theh · ruh · pee

the act of buying special things for yourself in order

to feel better when you are unhappy

i.e. I needed a lot of retail therapy to help me get

over my gloomy day.

Written by Riya Singh | Illustrated by Riya Singh

09
 Shopping urge?

Therapy or an
addiction?
Previously mentioned is an
exact definition taken from the
actual Cambridge Dictionary
Online. And as if it wasn’t
enough to make us all feel a tiny
bit silly (especially as everyone
has likely been there), they have
added insult to injury with the
example script.
Enter the January sales. A little
shopping therapy is a tempting
way to take the edge off. It
might be just what you need;
why not give yourself a break,
put that tax return on hold and
head out to the shops…
STOP RIGHT THERE.
Illustrated by Riya Singh
RETAIL THERAPY
ANOTHER CRUTCH WE
USE AS A PICK ME UP
WHEN WE ARE FEELING
LOW. A TEMPORARY HIT
OF ENDORPHINS THAT
DOESN’T INVOLVE A
TREADMILL.
It sounds great to me too, but
the problem is that we often
use it to distract ourselves
from a void we need to fill with
something instantly gratifying. A
Greenpeace survey showed that
around 50% of shoppers report
that the buzz wears off within a
day, and it is often followed by

You know as well as I do that a hangover of guilt and shame.

using retail as a form of therapy People report feeling bad
isn’t a thing. It wasn’t in the 80’s about their useless purchases,
when the term was first coined realising that shopping does
ALONGSIDE
by the Chicago Tribune and it’s not lead to increased long-term
still not ‘a thing’ now. In 2001 THE NEGATIVE
happiness.
the European Union conducted PSYCHOLOGICAL
a study finding that 33% of Overproduction and
CONNOTATIONS OF
shoppers surveyed had a “high overconsumption are USING SHOPPING
level of addiction to rash or unsustainable for both us and AS A ‘THERAPEUTIC’
unnecessary consumption” and the planet; the more we impulse ACTIVITY, THERE IS THE
that it could even reasonably be buy, the more our wardrobes IDEA OF PROMOTING
claimed that retail therapy exists swell with future waste destined CONSUMERISM
on a spectrum with ‘shopping for landfill and fated to cause WITHOUT
addiction. further harm. CONSIDERATION.
11
Reevaluating why
we shop
On the bright side, some
people are questioning the
consequences of their own
consumption habits and
reevaluating materialistic values.
Not only are many people well
aware that planetary boundaries
and unfair working conditions
in the industry mean that we
cannot continue business as
usual, they are increasingly
seeking meaning and happiness
in the experiences and
relationships rather than the
consumption of material goods.
12
Choose well if you still have the
urge
Today, we have an increasing
variety of brands shifting their
production and materials
to a more sustainable, slow
fashion model, ensuring we as
consumers can access all the
specifics of their production
process. ‘Good On You’ is
one such app that helps you
choose well by providing full
disclosure of brands’ ethical and
environmental credentials, and
is a great way to find quality
clothes from brands that do
better.
The clothing might seem a
little more pricey at first, but
approach these garments like
investments. Many brands
featured on such apps use
fabrics that require less
intensive resources and are of
an extremely high quality; they
are made to last.
Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi
BUY LESS
CHOOSE WELL
MAKE IT LAST.
 Buy Less
The
Choose Well
climate is
THERE
changing IS NO
why aren’t PLANET
we? -B-

Can we give existing clothes a new lease

of life? Can we demand that each item
we choose to buy and wear be made
Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi

with dignity?

Written by Riya Singh | Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi


wardrobe
detox
1 2
don’t cut
corners
Your wardrobe review needs
time - give it the attention
that it deserves. Plus, you’ll
find treasures; clothes you’ve
forgotten you have and clothes
you don’t remember buying. As
the global campaign group Fashion
Revolution likes to remind us, the
Illustrated by Riya Singh
most sustainable garment is the
one already in your wardrobe.
4 5
document your
closet
If you want to take your wardrobe
edit even further (think Cher’s
epic computerised walk-in closet
in the film Clueless), make lists,
Buy Less, Choose Well and Make It Last – these wise words were spoken by iconic take photos, label your clothes
British designer Vivienne Westwood where she highlighted that clothes should cost or use one of the many apps like
more than they do, and that her shop in Paris would feature the words ‘buy less, Stylebook, KonMari. This works
choose well, make it last’ splashed across the display window. Sounds like a pretty best for clothes hiding at the back
good philosophy to live by – so how about we practice it too? of your closet or the ones which
aren’t always visible.
DO SOMETHING
tackle the ‘no’
pile
We all have a stacked pile of
clothes we never wear. Time to
get to the bottom of what you’re
not wearing and why, while at the
same time, don’t be in a rush to
discard. Think about ways to give
the clothes new life: do they need
stain treatment, care or attention
or a repair for example. But be
strict: don’t put anything back into
your closet you probably won’t
wear.
one in
two out
For every item of new clothing
you buy, give two away. Don’t
hesitate to give away clothes in
perfect condition. Most of us think
of giving clothes to charity only
when they’re torn, faded, or worn
beyond repair, making them as
useless to the recipient as they
were to us.
3
keep in mind the
visibility
Organise your clothes on hangers
rather than in stacks so they’re all
visible and can be used regularly.
Bring all the stuff hiding at the back
of your cupboard or in drawers out
in plain sight.When you can’t see
all the stuff you own, it’s easy to
get bored of your wardrobe or feel
like you’re always short of clothes.
6
try
declutter
Avoid decision fatigue (yep,
it’s a thing!) by simplifying and
organising your wardrobe. Make 3
piles labelled ‘Keep’, ‘Discard’ and
‘Repair’. Familiarise yourself with
potential combinations and have a
go pairing things you haven’t put
together before. It will make those
old, reliable pieces as good as new.
17
How to avoid
Win-tage
Vintage shopping has had a makeover, with a new
generation of cool Instagram traders leading the way.
Buying vintage is a great way of giving old clothes a new

buying new clothes?

beginning.

Second-hand first
If a total ban on shopping is too big a leap, try this gentler
approach. Before buying anything new, endeavour to find
it secondhand first. This could mean buying a preloved
version from a resale platform, or even just borrowing
something similar from a friend. If we all #chooseused
more often it could reduce the demand for new
manufacture and landfill.

AIM FOR #30WEARS Swapping

In the immortal words of Dua Lipa, you need new rules.
The #30Wears rule coined by Livia Firth, founder of
sustainability consultancy Eco-Age, is a benchmark to help
you make savvier choices and give your clothes the lifespan
they deserve. Before buying anything, ask: will I wear this at
least 30 times?
If the answer is no, DON’T BUY.
Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi
Still have the urge? Try these alternatives instead.
Written by Riya Singh
Set a date with friends and spice up your wardrobes
by trading cool pieces you’ve been eyeing, and you’ll
have a “new” outfit for the weekend. This is perfect for
motivating each other, for a last minute fix or if you
feel the tendency to spend; you can try something new
without spending any money at all.
Borrow/Hire
If you know you’re unlikely to wear an item more than
once, don’t buy it – borrow it, whether that’s from a
generous friend or a fashion rental service. Hiring clothes
and wearing them before giving them back for someone
else to wear: clothing gets way more mileage before it’s
retired.

If you try these altrnatives, post a story and tag us at the_reflect_

18 19
 MAKE A CHANGE

R UTION
R UTION
R UTION
R UTION
R UTION
R UTION
LOVE THE CLOTHES YOU ALREADY OWN
BRING A REVOLUTION
Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi
Care
Repair
Rewear

If you’re lucky enough to stay at home during this pandemic, you

may have some extra time on your hands. Did you dig through
your closet? Find some clothes that you haven’t been wearing
because they’re missing buttons or have holes?
Repair and mending does not mean we can’t afford to buy
something new, it means we can’t afford something being thrown
away. Repairing our clothes is a practical, symbolic, aesthetic,
original, creative, trendsetting, revolutionary way to say, Illustrated by Riya Singh
“Long live my clothes!”

Written by Riya Singh

22
 Fabric Care Symbols
DECODED
Instructions: Start with the main process symbols, then add
the heat and power cycle code. An “X” means “do not”.

Process
Illustrated by Riya Singh

MACHINE BLEACH TUMBLE IRON DRY CLEAN

WASH DRY

Heat Power

COOL, WARM, HOT, PERMANENT DELICATE

A big factor that plays into clothing longevity is how it is LOW MEDIUM HIGH PRESS
looked after. Do you remember your mum always going
on about separating your garments into whites and colours Examples

and not mixing delicates with tougher fabrics?

There was some good reasoning behind that after all!
Check out our Fabric Care Guide for washing and drying
instructions for your loved fabrics. WASH, COLD, DRY, NORMAL, IRON, HIGH HEAT DO NOT
GENTLE MEDIUM HEAT DRY CLEAN

24
 THE FABRIC GUIDE
DON'T ESCAPE. TAKE CONTROL
AND CARE FOR YOUR FABRICS.
Washing
Cotton T-shirts can be prone to shrinking when they are
washed and dried. To try and stop this happening: Wash in
cold (30°C or below) water, whether using a washing machine
or washing by hand. Give garments a gentle stretch when
they come out of the wash to get them back into shape.
Drying
Always air dry: dry clothes flat and out of the sun if possible.
Incase ironing is required, it is best to iron cotton items while
they are still slightly damp or alternatively use the steam
setting on your iron.
Cotton
Washing
Always close your zips or buttons and turn the garment inside
out before washing. If your jeans aren’t dirty, don’t wash
them! Try popping them in a bag and put them in the freezer
to get rid of germs and freshen them up. (Sounds silly, but
works!) If you absolutely have to wash them, do so at 30°C.
Drying
When drying, flatten the denim garment into shape then
hang-dry or dry flat. This prevents, or at least reduces the
need to iron.
Denim
Washing
Like denim, these fabrics should only be washed if needed.
Use a detergent designed for woollens and wash on a gentle
cycle or hand wash.
Drying
Dry the garment flat and place it in its normal shape. If you
hand-washed the garment, place the damp garment flat on a
clean towel, roll up the towel and squeeze excess water.
Wool, Cashmere
Washing
If pre-washed, some can be machine washed but always use
the delicate setting or the silk specific programme and wash
at 30°C or lower. For extra protection, wash them in a mesh
bag. If hand-washing, add ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar to
3.5 litres of water. This restores its shine.
Drying
Once clean, lay the damp garment flat on a towel and roll the
towel up to squeeze out excess water. Lay flat to dry in order
to prevent creases. Never dry them on a wooden rack, this
can leave stains. Never dry using heat (i.e. on a radiator or
tumble dryer). This can cause shrinkage or damage.
Silk
Washing
Turn your clothes inside out before washing in the machine.
If hand-washing, use 30°C temperature water with mild
detergent and skip fabric softener. Avoid wringing out rayon
(also called viscose) items as this can leave them misshapen.
Drying
Rayon is prone to shrinkage, so always flat lay to dry. Modal
and Lyocell are much more resilient and can be tumble dried
if absolutely required.
Rayon, Lyocell, Modal
Washing
A fleece jacket may shed as many as 2,50,000 microfibres
per wash, which can release toxins as they break down and
poison the food chain once they reach the water supply.
Wash your fleece garments using wash bags in order to
prevent this from happening.
Drying
Avoid tumble drying and ironing fleece. Heat and friction will
cause the tiny plastic fibres that make up the fleece to melt.
Lay flat to dry and prevent creasing.
Fleece
Washing
When machine washing clothes made from synthetic fibres,
wash them in a wash bag in order to prevent tiny microfibres
from polluting the water supply.
Drying
It’s best to hang dry synthetic garments. They shouldn’t
need long to dry. Never tumble dry synthetic fabrics as this
weakens and damages the fibres quickly.
Acrylic, Nylon, Polyester
 WINE
> Mix together equal parts of
Dawn dishwashing detergent
and hydrogen peroxide.
> Pour the mixture over the
wine stain and allow it to
soak in. You should see the
stain begins to fade almost
immediately.
> After you have allowed the
mixture to soak into the stain,
launder the clothing normally.
This trick works best on light
colored clothes, as
hydrogen peroxide has a
tendency to bleach.
DEODRANT
Nylon stockings (yes, really!)
This is a great trick to use for
coloured clothing.
> Try rubbing nylon stockings,
a dry towel, or even a clean
sock on the stain, then pop the
item in the washing machine
with a colour-safe detergent
that's designed to help clothes
stay vibrant, like Persil Colour
Washing Capsules.
>This method is ideal
for removing marks left
behind from a deodorant
stick.
MAKE-UP SWEAT STAIN
Who knew? > Keep a spray bottle of
Hairspray can actually undiluted white distilled vinegar
help you get rid of a tricky handy and spray the underarms
makeup stain. of white and colored clothes
> Apply hairspray to the stain before washing.
and let it dry. > Let the vinegar soak
> Let the hairspray dry and in for 10 to 15 minutes
follow up with a wet wipe. before washing.
Note: this only works if the
hairspray contains alcohol.
Alcohol-free hair sprays will do SWEAT STAIN
nothing for a makeup stain. Chances are you can remove
stains from pizza grease using
items that are already in your
kitchen cupboard.
MAKE-UP > As soon as the stain occurs,
The fabric you’re mostly likely
use a generous amount of
to spill nail polish on is your
baking soda or cornstarch to
clothing.
cover and absorb the stain.
> First of all, you might want
> Let the powder sit for 2 to 3
to put that bottle of nail polish
minutes, then discard.
remover down. The chemicals
> Then place a small drop of
in the remover can have an
dish soap on the affected area
adverse reaction with certain
and gently dab with a wet paper
fabric dyes.
towel.
> Try using hair spray on the
> Repeat until the grease stain is
stain or use a dry cleaning
no longer visible.
solvent.
Pizza night is saved!
> If you spilled fingernail polish
on white clothing, use hydrogen
peroxide to bleach the stain
away gently.
> Once you’ve removed
the stain, launder
your clothes as usual.

Have some more tips?

DON’T LET A LITTLE COFFEE , MAKEUP OR RED DM us your tips at the_reflect_

WINE RUIN YOUR FAVOURITE CLOTHES.

HERE’S HOW TO GET RID OF PESKY STAINS, SO
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR LOVED CLOTHES LAST.
TOP TIP:
Vinegar is your best friend (and the best value for money)
when it comes to stains. Add up to one cup of white vinegar
to the fabric softener drawer of your laundry loads. This will
not only help tackle stains but add brightness to whites and
colours, remove lint, help prevent dyes running, kill bacteria,
neutralise odours and help your clothes and machine clear
of soap residue- making both stay cleaner and last longer.
 BROKEN
is beautiful

We want our jeans to be torn, worn and weathered by use,

so why not share the same love for other pieces of clothing? A
dropped hem, giving that dress an asymmetrical fall, that funny
hole in your sock, a perfectly placed tear on your favourite shirt.
Sure, we can mend it - or we can leave it as it is, an ode to a
moment worth remembering, like that childhood scar that
Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi

makes us who we are.

Written by Riya Singh | Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi

31
 CHOOSE A STYLE

STEP-BY-STEP STEP 1: > Pinch centre of STEP 2: > Feather the shirt before
the chest on the you finish your round spiral.
shirt.
WHAT YOU NEED > This means that you will
> The shirt will create extra lines or folds
begin to create a in the shirt between each
spiral, use your turn.
other hand to
continue twisting when you have made a tight
the shirt. spiral that is in the shape of
a circle.
> A fork works too
A SHIRT DYE IN BOTTLES RUBBERBAND GLOVES
Choose a fabric You can buy a dye The size of the Tight fitting gloves
only consisting of kit or order from a rubberband are the best for
natural fibres. dye company. doesn't matter but preventing the ink STEP 3: > Take rubberbands and
open them with your
STEP 4: > DON'T FORGET
YOUR GLOVES!
> Apply just enough
to soak the fabric in
may affect your getting on your
design. hands. hands. Slide them under a pie slice-selection.
and over the circle > Do this in a
until they are tight on controlled manner, > Follow with
opposite ends. you don't want the colours of the
PREPARE FABRIC > Avoid picking the
colour to leak to the
other side.
rainbow to blend.
Repeat until you've
shirt bundle up, since it dyed all the pie
can change the shape > Flip the shirt over selections.
(BEFORE DYING) > The end result you've created. onto its backside.
will look like a Repeat the process
> Secure the circle with of applying bottle
PIZZA rubberbands going dye to each section.
perpendicular. Then, do
diagonal lines.

1: Wash shirt in hottest water

possible using synthrapol textile 4: Soak fabric for
15 MIN
detergent and soda ash. or overnight.

STEP 5: > Place the shirt inside

a plastic bag, let it sit
> Soak the shirt in cold
water after it has sat for
> Run the shirt through
two cold water cycles in
5: After soak, remove excess soda
ash water in washing machine.
for atleast 4 hours or
overnight.
enough time. Remove
the rubberbands.
the washing machine.
DO NOT USE SOAP.
NOTE: RUN SPIN CYCLE ONLY.
DONT NOT RINSE. > Place it in the dryer

2: Remove shirt from machine

to soak in soda ash water.
on medium heat. It
will help to set the dye
further.

3: Dissolve 1 cup
soda ash in
6: Hang to air dry and
minimize
1 cup of hot water. wrinkles! YOUR SHIRT IS READY TO WEAR OR WASH AS DESIRED.
Make your own tee and don't forget to tag us at the_reflect_

32 33
Fact or Fib?
1. Globally just 12% of the material used for clothing ends up being
recycled.
2. 80% of discarded textiles are doomed for the landfill or
incineration.
3. Fashion industry is not responsible for global wastewater and
carbon emissions.
4. According to research, sustainable and ethical clothes cost more
in terms of production and labour costs.
5. Shopping ethically is a privilege not many can afford.

Find me
SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY
EMISSIONS
RECYCLABLE
NATURE
ECOLOGICAL
GREEN
PLANET
RENEWABLE
WASTE

Illustrated by Ishita Sanghi

Answers on page 43
 Kaiyare
This clothing and accessories
brand strikes a harmonious
balance of everything
handmade and sustainable,
seeped in Indian craft
traditions. Besides using
waste fabrics for its
clothing, the brand also
Jaggery uses agricultural waste like
banana tree bark in its line
Jaggery is an independent of bags, baskets, and home
designer brand that uses industrial accessories.
waste for creating ethical, green
products. The brand uses seatbelts
and tarpaulins for making bags
and other accessories.
Ecoalf
The brand's goal is to reduce
the consumption of natural
resources, that’s why we decided
to use recycled materials, such as

from waste, to
synthetic nylon & polyester, that
come from recycled sources and
can be recycled many times.

fashion
Re;code
Re;code is a Korean upcycling Two Thirds
brand that believes in creating
The brand highly
something new from waste
believes in reusing
to create value, re;code is
waste, this could
challenging the mainstream
be leftovers from
industry by reinterpreting
production processes,
design, and giving back to the
post consumer waste,
environment.
materials recovered
from the environment
- especially the Ocean -
and deadstock.

Nothing New
Nothing New gives sneakers a sustainable twist by
using plastic worth 5.6 water bottles (one litre) in
each pair. The brand claims that all the materials
that go into the making of its sneakers, down to its
lace and the label, are made from recycled plastic.
 Throwing some light
on buying habits Another issue is that materialistic people are
Written by Gabija Janickaite, Ishita Bhatia less likely to educate themselves on such topics and with
so many companies greenwashing, their “greener” choices
The question remains, "Will consumers decide that buying
may mean nothing.
less is better than buying ‘green’?"
The Indian fashion industry’s annual production is
Whilst it may seem that the root of the issue is our
400 billion square metre of textiles leading to cutting room
consumption, the reality is, our self-worth and identity are
floor waste of 60 billion square metre.
tangled up with matristic mentality. Thanks to social media, it
In the present pandemic-mutating world, crippled by global
has made so many of us believe that we have to chase trends
warming and deprivation, and where fashion and lifestyle
in order to be chased as well as portray a high-status image of
choices directly affect the environment, sustainability isn’t
ourselves to satisfy the inner insecurity through other
just a bandwagon for trendy consumers to thumb a lift.
people “likes”.
It is a personal choice that involves protecting the
According to UK Parliament studies, UK buys more clothes per
environment, pursuing and reviving dying traditions and lost
person than any other country in Europe... Says a lot about the
legacies while also helping thousands of artisans rendered
people, doesn’t it? And the importance here is that studies
jobless by the coronavirus contagion.
done by the University of Arizona, suggest that materialistic
individuals were less likely to participate in reduced
purchasing which can mean that they can buy “greener”
but it still causes damage if you buy too much.

38 39
 What inspired you to create
SUSS?
SUSS started as a Facebook
group for conscious consumers,
In converstaion with Lavanya Garg, Co-founder, SUSS, a fashion designers, writers, film-makers,
etc. The thriving conversations in
community bringing artisans, designers, and activists together to discuss the group led us to curate offline
the future of sustainable fashion in India. SUSS (Sustainable Style Speak) events and experiences. Our
flagship event is the “SUSSout”
is India’s 1st sustainable fashion community. It started in January 2018 series which explore different
with a desire to connect with like minded people in the sustainable fashion facets of sustainable fashion
through talks, film screenings,
space in India. Lavanya Garg
panel discussions and workshops.
Co-founder, SUSS
In the past we’ve explored topics
Interviewed by Riya Singh for Reflect https://www.aboutsuss.com
such as – waste to fashion,
application of sharing economy
in fashion, and conscious
consumerism.
What are your views on
building a strong community
for making a strong impact?
Fashion is riddled with a myriad
of social and environmental
challenges that need our
immediate attention. There
are many ways to solve these
challenges and at the core of
it all is a sense of “being in this
together.” Nothing has brought this
to the fore better than the current
Covid-19 outbreak. Quarantined
together, we are realizing the
power of collective action for the
greater good.
What is in store for SUSS in
the future?
KNOWLEDGE IS A In the long run, we see SUSS
BASIC BARRIER IN growing in numbers and reach,
TERMS OF THE RISE being a rich thriving community for
anyone working in or interested in
OF SUSTAINABILITY IN
sustainable fashion in India, and
INDIA.
ultimately contributing our bit in
- Lavanya Garg shaping a global narrative.
What are your views on the
changes in buying habits for
Indian consumers?
With many young Indians
wanting to go back to
their roots, to lead a more
responsible lifestyle, there
has definitely been a spurt in
sustainable fashion brands such
as our community members
Aslee and Iro Iro. People are
innovating with materials and
business models too. One of
our community members,
Nancy Bhasin, runs the peer
to peer clothes swapping
platform called This For That.
Another member, Madhurima,
founder of Dhuri, is making
dyes from waste onion peels
and milk based fabric. People
are also increasingly looking for
shopping alternatives such as
swapping and mending.
What barriers do you see
in terms of expansion of
sustainable fashion in India
especially in post covid
times?
In a 2019-2020 survey by the
Voice of Fashion out of 937
adults across New Delhi,
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata
and Ahmedabad, 82% were not
aware that “the fashion industry is
among the top three contributors
to pollution.” Then there is the
question of what alternative
options do people have. Can they
conveniently swap their clothes
with their community? Can they
easily find responsible brands? Are
these brands within their budget?
41
 WORK TOWARDS Send a letter
Collective Good YOUR VOICE HAS POWER, USE IT!
Find your local policy maker, fill in this template, sign your name,
add your best selfie.
Then simply take a picture of the letter and email it to your policy maker
or post this on your social media and tag us: @the_reflect_

Dear,

The fashion industry is exploitative and we are all a part of

it. I want you to firmly commit to ending the ‘throwaway’
culture as we build back greener.
I want you to enforce minimum standards for textile
products, and introduce requirements to improve textile
product labelling to clearly highlight an item’s durability,
reparability, recyclability, and recycled content, as well as
the impact production has had on the environment.
I, as a consumer, want to be well informed and aware so
that I can be an empathetic citizen and do my bit.

Sincerely,

ANSWERS - FACT/FIB ANSWERS - WORD SEARCH CONTRIBUTORS

1. Globally just 12% of the material
used for clothing ends up being
recycled. FACT
2. 80% of discarded textiles are
doomed for the landfill or
incineration. FACT
3. Fashion industry is not
Illustrated by Riya Singh
You didn't find the word LANDFILL? Riya Singh
Yeah, sorry we did that on purpose. Ishita Sanghi
You can't find the word LANDFILL to Ishita Bhatia
inspire you to live as if disposing off Gabija Janickaite
clothes was never an option.
Care for your clothes, mend, SPECIAL THANKS TO
embrace the stains, remember, Pearl Academy

responsible for global wastewater broken is beautiful. Manchester Metropolitan, UK

and carbon emissions. FIB
4. According to research, SCAN TO HEAD
sustainable and ethical clothes cost OVER TO OUR
more in terms of production and INSTAGRAM
labour costs. FACT
5. Shopping ethically is a privilege
not many can afford. FACT
 DON'T BE SELFISH. DO SOMETHING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
MAKE A CHANGE.

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