Style, Substance, Sustenance: Defining the Future of Fashion

'Can fast fashion ever be sustainable?', a question I have pondered upon more than anything else in the past few years, and yet failed to provide myself with a satisfactory answer. As I understand, sustainable fashion means to maximize benefits to customers and minimize adverse impact on environment. 

Each time we hear the words 'environment degradation', our visual sense tends to drift towards instances like massive thermal plants, deforestation, raw sewage piped into our waterways; we rarely ever think of the clothes that we are wearing. Not many of us are aware of the fact that currently the multi-billion fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. With million tons of textile being disposed off every year, it is certain that the carbon footprint the industry is leaving behind is massive. Each one of us should start exploring ways to make a positive difference. 

One of the easiest ways for us to contribute is to buy a lot less than we do today. We need to understand that every garment has an environmental footprint at every stage of production and also continues to impact the environment after purchase. Washing and final disposal when we are done with our garment causes more harm to the environment than we realize.

However, there have been events and projects that we can all rejoice about. Anyone keeping a tab on the fashion industry for the last few years, is bound to be well aware of the era of responsibility rushing in. Fast fashion brands have been realising their responsibility towards the environment. H&M's Conscious and Zara's join life project on ethical fashion serve as proof to the growing awareness among the producers as well as consumers. With events like Copenhagen Fashion Summit shaping the future of sustainable fashion, one can be assured that there is only one way forward: sustainable and ethical fashion replacing fast fashion.

What's Trend-In?

Around the globe in 4 weeks? New York! London! Milan! Paris! 

Yes, a jam packed fashion calendar indeed. 

Had the fashion capitals unanimously accepted the idea of 'see now buy now', I would've been documenting spring/summer trends, but I have no regrets not doing so.  Following the 'when-you-see-three-count-it-in' rule, and juggling between high school obligations and catching up with the global fashion month,here is a compilation of the trends that have got me hooked . 

Cropped Trousers

Hands down one of my personal favourites. Not to sound too bias, but certainly bags the top rank in the most workable trends list. Yes, this trend is so chic and its here to stay! Defying all seasonal factors, it can be carried well all year round. And the best part? There's a perfect fit pair for everyone; have fun discovering yours! 

Ruffles

Sweet. Sensitive. Sensual. Fancy. Nothing speaks more feminine than our beloved ruffles. And its no more restricted to spring/summer. Ruffled hems, ruffled necklines, ruffled sleeves, ruffled skirts, ruffled pants even! A trend too busy ruling the runway this fashion season. Season after season, ruffles are being reinterpreted. We can safely say that its not fading anytime soon. 

Bomber Jacket

Want to pull up your sport-luxe game? This is the trend for you! I did have my share of doubts about this one, but with it being increasingly spotted being worn by street stars around the globe, it was bound to find itself a spot in the list. The good news is that it now comes in a wide range to choose from; from embellished to embroidered, you name it , you have it.

Metallic

                        

Certainly not for the faint hearted wanting to play it safe. Nobody wants to be seen as a knight in shining armor, which makes this trend kind of risky. It is better to under-do it than over-do it; this calls for a strategic mix of dressy and casual. The runway played witness to subtle hints of metals, in just the perfect amount. 

(Faux) Fur

Its no secret that Autumn/Winter is synonymous to fur! Faux fur, yes please. (Winter sans fur, is that even a thing?) Since London, Milan and Paris put down their foot and clearly declined the idea of 'see now buy now' which was invading the traditional idea of fashion seasons, the fur had its role to play acting as the fall/winter element in most of the runway shows. This time over, the fur was seen strategically being placed along the neckline. 

...and thats a wrap! Till next time! 

India Fashion Week A/W '15-16

Attending the India Fashion Week has always been a merry experience. Watching perfectly tailored and detailed clothes draped around elongated bodies walking down the ramp, is undoubtedly a treat for the eye.

The 25th edition of Amazon India Fashion Week A/W '15-16, passed as a dreamy experience for me, as I got a chance to watch all (yes, all!) the shows. That really is something, ain't it? But of course, as they say, nothing comes for free. So what did I have to do, you ask? I got a chance to be one of the ushers for this Fashion week! It is fun, but a lot of work at the same time, I won't deny the fact.  It is tiring, working for hours sans food.

There were certain things that really got me hooked (other than the grand finale). To my interest, this fashion week saw a number of young designers taking a lead.

Ruchika Sachdev’s Bodice wooed straight-forwardness; simplicity in in its most chic form, a rare fashion sight.

Paromita Banarjee's ramp saw a rare combination of sneakers with sarees, which unexpectedly made up for an extremely classic look. Her separates made up of organic cotton certainly deserves a glance.

Pia Paro's interesting prints came with momentous feathered head gears.

Péro by Aneeth Arora was quite a bag of surprises with an army band  lending its music for the ramp. The Scottish checks and enamel buttons came together, to create a uniform that everyone wishes for it to be a part of their wardrobe.

Eka by Rina Singh, mixed wool, with silk and linen to create wonders. The chic hats, the formal attires and the simple yet classy bags; perfection in itself.

Malini Ramnani stuck to her constant style through her fashion ride, sensuality with tribal touches.

Hemant and Nandita paid homage to the snow-clad mountains and  the stunning meadows  of Kashmir through carpet embroidery.   mismatched prints and endearing pop elements did justice to the theme. The hats and the printed bags added a modern and quirky edge to it.

To wrap it all up, the 'Creative Cut', the Grand Finale to celebrate the 25th edition of India Fashion Week, managed to find a special mention on this post. With 25 Indian fashion designers, showcasing their interpretation of 'Crafts of India', the grand finale grabbed a position in the pages of history of the Indian Fashion Industry.  The breathtaking beauty still doesn't fade in the view of my mind.

This was one experience I'm going to cherish for a long long time! Check out…I got clicked with a couple of designers too!

Being an usher I was not allowed to click, so borrowed the above photos from various sources!

Winter Florals

Hello, you all beautiful components of this world.

I'll soon be starting with my grade 10 exams, so I haven't had much time to write, sadly.

As mentioned in my previous post, I feel it's time we get over overall neutrals and start piling bright hues into our winter wardrobe.
Moreover, this transient weather calls for you to brainstorm and amalgamate spring and winter into your outfit.

While waiting for the flowers to bloom and the atmosphere to fill up with screaming colours, it's that time of the year when wearing floral couldn't be more appropriate.
The chill in the year still hangs as I eagerly look forward to fill my wardrobe with popping colours.
Having my heart carry this feeling, I came up with this outfit. Yes, I totally do wear my mood!


Till next time,
Cheers!

Soft Shouldered Blazer: Benetton

Bag: Aldo

Floral Dress: Kazo

Hello Twenty Fifteen

After my new year eve party, when I got cozy into my blanket with sleepy eyes, one thought that swept my mind was, 'New year, new engrossments; time to pull out all the stops'. And to give power to this thought, I did something new to start with. I tried my hands on poetry! And of course, I’m eager to share it with you all…

She walked past swiftly
and got with her,
her own ups and downs
A teacher to many
A guardian for a few
A friend to me
but conceivably a fiend for you
She carried on, never giving up

Promising grounds for hope
With every sunrise within her
But then she said
Everything comes to an end
And the clock struck twelve
To mark her death 
and that is when she faded away
Only to give birth to another her

A weird name she had, 
the Year they called her!

Just like this one, I plan to experiment and explore new avenues, as much as I can this year. I’ll make sure to keep you updated!

Moving onto my outfit for today, I chose to take a break from the usual winter colours. Moreover, it’s time we grow out of the myth that only dark shades are winter appropriate, and start injecting brighter hues into our winter wardrobe.

Top: Marks and Spencer 

Bag: D&H Brothers (a gift from my brother!)

Coat: Kazo

Boots: 5th Avenue

The gorgeous super soft yarn disguises itself in the form of a top.

I chose to wear majority of black and a soft yarn top in a bright colour. I wanted the bright hue to talk for itself. I teamed it up with leather boots and a coat to add an extra edge to the look. 

Since I carried this outfit while the sun was up, I opted for a minimalist approach towards the accessories part. But if this outfit heads for dusk, I would suggest accessorizing it with statement gold shade accessory.