Sustainability Compendium Edition III

Fashion in itself is a dynamic industry, and if you choose to look at fashion solely from the sustainability point of view, then keeping track of developments is simply not easy. Inventions, innovations and ideas have already changed the narrative, and the axioms of the business of fashion that dominated the discourse at the turn of the century, today sound hopelessly outdated and out-of-place.

‘Sustainable fashion’ was just another segment of the industry till even in the early half of this decade. But not anymore. Thought leaders are unanimous about one thing—sustainable fashion can no more be a niche, and many of them agree that if it ain’t sustainable, then it ain’t fashion. By and by, many brands are lending credence to that idea, while for many others the idea is just beginning to sink in. This is where this compendium comes in—with ideas.

There are many articles in this volume that discuss different aspects threadbare. ‘Fashionable=Sustainable. Is that even possible?’ argues that there is more to sustainable fashion than meets the eye. The article asserts that the relationship between fashion and sustainability is active and complex, and each time we look at the key ideas or issues at stake, different aspects seem to come to light. It looks at sustainability in manufacturing, working conditions of garment workers, and the role of the fashion designer in the entire process.

Therein, ‘Revitalising a lifestyle’ is an interview with Edric Ong, an award-winning Malaysian designer of natural textiles, fashion and crafts. Currently, Senior Vice-President of the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific, he set up the World Eco-Fibre and Textile (WEFT) Network to further the cause of natural fibres and dyes. In a freewheeling interview, Ong talks about sustainable fashion and where it is going globally, and how it can be made a more permanent mode of retail fashion. He also talks about his well-known experiments with ikat, and points out that eco-lifestyle is about going back to the basics.

‘The True Cost of Fast Fashion’ goes ahead to underline the fact that it is indeed possible to improve and impact almost every aspect of the production process and factors such as scale, technical viability and global supply chains are no longer limiting as long as businesses are committed to paying the true cost of production. And, ‘No, fast is not sustainable’ takes a deep dive into the entire gamut of fashion, right from the birth of the concept to the explosive growth of the segment, and finally the backlash.

I hope this fourth edition will give you thoughts to mull over and even implement some in your day to day business.