“Put a finger down if all you’re excited about during festivals is getting ready.”
Of course, every day is an occasion to get ready. However, the fragrance in the air is a little different during the festive seasons. One cannot deny that true joy comes when the city glitters with lights. Diyas glowing on window panes to the dazzling lights adorning the street. Perhaps the approaching wedding season makes the family churn with enthusiasm. You may whip up your lehengas and twirl in them daily. But their shine is exceptional in such celebratory moods. If you are someone who reserves the more admirable outfits for special days, these festivals become all the more necessary to document. Also, who doesn’t like to jazz up a bit? We all have an inner Bollywood diva waiting to unravel. Even a dramatic maang teeka or a cute dupatta draped gracefully is enough to awaken the Bole Churiya girl within me. All in all, the winters in India could never leave a speck of dullness. There’s always something to look forward to and design an ethnic outfit for.
Having bonded on our material gworl instincts, I have a confession. As much as these instances make your hearts eager, they are fatal to the planted. Yup, you slayed too hard. There’s sufficient evidence of the changes in daily weather and the absurd rise in pollution nowadays. Environment degradation is occurring at an alarming rate while sharply affecting our biodiversity. What does this have to do with my Diwali outfit, you ask? Every product ever purchased or any material for sale links to a factory. Every factory needs fossil fuels to run. Fossil fuels burn to create fresh pollution and irreversible damage to the planet. Therefore, your new clothes and cute dupatta contribute to global disruption. Quite an exaggeration, but true nevertheless.
On that depressive note, here are five ways to recycle your clothes in the most fashionable way possible. Let us not dim the spirits whilst being morally superior at the Christmas dinner this year.
Conversions
My favorite way of converting clothes is to change their purpose. A heavy kurta may not be of use daily, but if you find a way to crop it, alter it, or change the sleeves, you might be able to extract complete usage from the garment. Similarly, my mom had this jacket that was attached to a kurta that was slightly loose on her. In a usual scenario, it would be given away to house helps, or perhaps even thrown. Ganesh Chaturthi was around the corner, and I found the perfect use for this jacket. We took it to the tailor who stitched the jacket flaps and it became a top. Trust me when I say, I absolutely adore this top. It is comfortable and because it's my brainchild, it makes me love it even more. The best part is that there are no copies of it.
Another conversion project was taking an overworn ethnic dress and converting it into a peplum kurta. I was able to pair this kurta with a heavy set of palazzos and wear it to a pre-wedding function. Otherwise, I would not have worn the dress or the palazzos to the occasion. However, they went together and it was a win for me. The conversions barely cost 50-70 rupees, depending on where you live. It gives a new life to clothes at a fraction of the price of a new outfit. It is one less decomposition job for the landfills.
Revamp
My hoarding tendencies became clear when half of my closet was just fabric scraps. Some of them came from sarees, and others from suit pieces. This time, I needed to thrift an outfit for my birthday but could not find suitable options. That is when I turned to this pile of scraps. I discovered a few meters of cloth from a kurta my mom had stitched a dozen years ago. It seemed enough for a new top. Pinterest came to my rescue for design inspiration, and the very kind tailor brought it to life. On the day of my birthday, I paired it with white trousers (which I already owned). Since it was stitched for me, it had an incredible fitting. I even wore it to a couple of gatherings in the following month. My birthday outfit was complete without any actual effect on the climate.
Stealing & Altering
If it was not evident, I adore stealing clothes. To commit to reducing clothing waste means borrowing them from your brother’s closet. We share basics like formal shirts and solid t-shirts. I have enjoyed his collection of quirky shirts and dapper kurtas. Dare I say I look much better in them than he does? Even from my mother’s collection, there have been instances of clothes almost thrown away. Most of my denim is hers altered. Additionally, they have vintage value.
A top purchased over a decade ago is now a part of my casual wear. This specific one was long and had no sleeves. We hemmed the bottom and used the fabric to make sleeves to comply with the dress code. Furthermore, it comes with a conversation starter every time you wear it.
Exchange
The college has an event every few months. Bollywood day, literary days, festivals, etc. One ought to run out of permutations and combinations to fit every theme. On Onam, I borrowed my best friend’s pattu pavada. We make it a point to share our clothing. It just gives us an array of options. Conducting clothing exchanges and having your system is also a great way to bond. If your BFF has identical sizes, you have double the closet! If you are different sizes, I am sure your online shopping goof-ups will serve her needs adequately.
Versatile Choices
Investing in basics and solids can help you build a variety of outfits with minimal requirements. In my experience, a white T-shirt, a pair of neutral-colored trousers and a black sleeveless bodycon are classics. I have worn them with ethnic and casual pieces. They need not be expensive, as long as they fit your needs. I keep purchasing inexpensive white T-shirts quite regularly. They are a practical addition to your wardrobe. More so, solids are very accessible. The solid green blouse I bought for my school farewell has taken me through every traditional function. I could take off the sleeves, add lace and embroidery, and play with it as much as I’d like. Pieces like this never look bad on anyone and give you plenty of freedom to style them.
Links for the basics:
Shop sustainably
When you need to shop and have nothing to wear, shop sustainably. It could imply renting, thrifting, or handmade products. There has been an uprising of companies releasing sustainable lines. They give consumers much more access and choices. Shopping sustainably is also a step towards shopping locally. Boutiques around you are primarily small-scale and do not engage in mass production to the scale of big names. Taking small conscious steps makes the planet a little happier, one smile line at a time.
Links to support businesses, learn and be inspired:
https://www.instagram.com/ecolineclothing?igsh=MXFjcmQwbmN1d2g0NA==
https://www.instagram.com/jamunsoda?igsh=ZGw3ZjY3eGFsejE3
On a concluding note, please remember that fashion has no rules. Any unsolicited advice in the blog is from a general perspective. It is a humble request to look beyond clothing and open our arms in the quest to protect nature. Paper comes from cutting trees, but it does not mean we stop painting and writing. It just opens a new outlet to find alternatives creatively. The most efficient processes in the world involve thinking outside the box. Yes, capitalism is also a creative idea. You decide whether your creativity leads to a cleaner world or an eternal hustle culture.
I hope you are inspired to switch patterns and invite better techniques to your lifestyle. I would appreciate seeing your ideas in the comment section down below <3
- Naveli, Volunteer, Editorial Committee
loved this blog!! 🫶 (can finally steal, exchange, alter clothes without being insecure after this blog ✨ðŸ˜)
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