This Independence Day, it’s time to embrace our roots.
There’s no denying that fast fashion brands who mass produce trends by the minute are harming our home planet. They provide quick fixes and updates for those shopaholics with already overflowing wardrobes. However, there are a lot of us who’ve started shopping more responsibly: People who mix and match or have a minimal wardrobe with key pieces that can be worn in multiple ways, and others who’ve started going back to slow fashion.
Investing in pieces that are unique, sustainable and timeless is the only way forward. We come from a rich cultural heritage where handlooms constitute a timeless facet of our lives. The Indian handloom industry is one of the oldest and largest cottage industries in India and we, unfortunately, aren’t making the most of it. With the threat from obsolete technology and power looms, weavers are struggling to keep their art alive. There is hope still, and it comes in the form of some young, talented and enterprising designers and individuals who are bringing these handwoven fabrics from around India to the limelight.
On the occasion of India’s Independence Day, Man’s Life has compiled seven handloom brands that need to be on the top of your shopping list.
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Morii—woods or forest in Japanese is what this brand embodies. The organic nature of the wild forest is reflected in the clothes by this brand. Founded by Brinda Dudhat and Sony Yadhav, both of whom are alumni of NID, this brand believes in drawing wisdom from the past that is getting seemingly lost in the present. The artisans from Kutch are the ones who are the heart and soul of Morii. They use organic hand-spun kala cotton (grown without pesticides) from the western part of India, and then hand embroider on it creating clothes that are pieces of art, they upcycle clothes and have a zero-waste policy making it a 100% ethical brand one should look out for.
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We live in a country with places that hold treasures that have long been forgotten. One such place is the district of Simdega in Jharkhand around 120 kilometres from the city of Ranchi, home to the Mehar community. The tradition of weaving has remained in the family, but has seen a steady decline. While the pandemic had slowed things down even further, NIFT graduate Ashish Satyavrat Sahu took up his long-time dream of glorifying the textiles of Jharkhand by starting the homegrown streetwear label Johargram—the amalgamation of ‘namaste’ (johar) and ‘village’ (gram). The brand opens the doors to the citizens of India showcasing the craft and textiles of Jharkhand in its utmost glory. The collection is a mix of bomber jackets, tunics, bandanas and many more. What a brilliant way of mixing traditional craft, modern silhouettes and empowering the artisans of the district!
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Slow fashion is not a trend, but a responsible shift of mindset that is now a welcome change amongst the youth of our country. Sustainability has seeped into the world of fashion and one such brand to emphasise the need of the hour is the fashion initiative Bareek. Started by a former creative supervisor and IIMC graduate, Aman Singh. Bareek believes in creating a balance by creating a bridge between underappreciated craft clusters and trends of today. This menswear driven label is known for its button-down shirts, which are classics many can pick to keep in their wardrobe till time memorial. The purpose of the brand is to make the weaver the master of the craft and the star of the show. To make people realise the relentless effort put into making your garment. For you to make the shift from fast to slow fashion steadily, but surely.
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Wunderhaus is a Puducherry based fashion brand that aims at redefining handloom. Suicides of cotton farmers severely affected Kedar Maddula, founder and designer of the brand, launched in 2020 in Auroville. He in collaboration with architect-turned-artist M Kalaivani of the brand 56th Day has attempted to bridge the gap between rural and urban India. Primarily a fashion and accessories brand, all the clothes are gender fluid, embodying sustainable fashion with a global appeal. Wunderhaus is focused on popularising handloom amongst the youth and their designs are just what you need in your closet.
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If you haven’t heard of GoCoop, you are living under a rock or a large pile of fast fashion clothes. It is India’s first national award-winning online marketplace for weavers and artisans, and The Good Loom is a brand under it. They have developed simple and refreshing apparel, ethically made which focuses on the simple design techniques and traditions of hand-weaving in India. This brand tells you that you shouldn’t just feel happy buying the clothes, but feel happy from within for participating in the change towards sustainability.
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Started by the brother-sister duo; Dheeraj and Divya, Naalgo is a gender-neutral clothing brand that explores traditional Indian textiles and modern silhouettes. Their clothes are vibrant and a reflection of the bright weaves of Telangana, where they source fabric from the local weavers. Stitched in a local shop in Hyderabad, Naalgo will have you wanting more, but guilt-free! One more patchwork shirt, or just one more checkered shirt that could just be your staple from tomorrow.
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Preserve, Revive, and Reform, are the values Dhātu stands for. Founded by Anmol Sharma, a fashion designer from NIFT, the menswear collection is minimal and utilitarian in design. Dhātu studio sources authentic handloom and natural textiles, making it a must-have in the trove of clothes you own. With the use of textiles that are handwoven, the brand makes sure that you buy clothes that are durable and will last you a lifetime.
Our culture and the talented craftsmen that come with it should be embraced by us. The unspoken expertise that is on the verge of extinction can be revived if we as a whole shift our focus on buying stuff that are timeless too; handlooms are ageless and should be back in the spotlight!
[Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock]
Shraddha Shetty