Fashion for peace campaign- an essential step for sustainability

It is always fascinating to watch Sadhguru, as he has a lot of wisdom to distribute and has been assigned in a lot of socio-scientific project by Indian government. The latest statement he has been making in New York is to battle for the natural fiber based clothing, which has been derided by synthetic, micro fiber based fashion industry.

 Why such a movement has to start from US is because an average American throws 25 kgs of clothes (please note they are thrown, not recycled, which means its shelf life is finished), compared to 1.6 kgs for an average Indian (we Indians have the traditions of using a shirt as a car or room cleaning wipe after its expected life :).
 The amount of synthetic fiber has many adverse impact that not only affects the skin that embraces it, but also contaminates the ground and ocean water due to the carcinogenic material it produces, every time it is cleaned through washing machine or any other means! The impact on mind, disability, neurological parts of the body is being studied and extensively reported in literature, especially for kids.

Historically India has been making fashion statements, when rest of the world was still defining civilisation, that is echoed 6000 years ago, in the Mahabharata by the way the clothings were used. In modern history, India exported 85% of textile to the world, 300 years ago. Between 1800-1860, the process was systematically killed by the British that ceased an entire two generation of weavers, who had to switch profession to farming for survival. In the process 1.7 million weavers died due to 98% drop in revenue and 6300% drop in business for the once flourished profession! The farming on the other hand is always defined only for perishable items (read food), whereas growing cotton instead has a more longevity, provided there is a market and incentive to do so. That is precisely Sadhguru is trying to encompass under government initiative to bring back a more respectful job of weaver, which is a dying profession in India. He is a carrying a delegation of 136 distinct weave to US, who have specialities, quite uniquely positioned. This can be revived if the big fashion industries pick up raw material from these micro players.

Good news is that in India, Wills Lifestyle (part of ITC Ltd.) has announced to switch to 100% natural fiber and Raymods is also moving in similar direction. Various state governments are making it a point that the school uniform in government schools be made fiber cotton based! India has 130 million school going children!   Fashion industry produces 10% green house gas emissions, which is more than the emissions produced by the flights and marine industries, put together! By forming a farmer producers organisation, India is moving in the right direction to create awareness and hopefully some sustainable job prospects for the farmers. 


Watch this candid interaction of Sadhguru with Imran Amed, the chief editor of The Business Fashion.
You Tube link

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