The theme for our feature section on this issue is sustainability. A newer look at the things we discard, detailed interactions with people who have charted down the rules of sustainability and the problems arising from the world of fashion, and, of course, how to deal with them.
When I hear ‘sustainability’, I always think of my mother and how her practices perfectly embody the term. And I am sure it’s not just me. Growing up in Indian households meant you learned to reduce waste, reuse and recycle early on in life. From clothes being passed down to younger cousins to seeing a garment go from a fancy dress to a rag cloth, we’ve learnt the principles early on. Of course, we ended up unlearning a lot of it thanks to over-consumerism, a constant portrayal in the media of how you ‘need’ things, and our fascination with fashion and beauty trends and IT products. This is why in this issue, we’ve tried to go back to the olden ways.
Our fashion editorial looks at the trash we produce in a new light. We listed down some of the most thrown-away items and gave each of them a fashionable spin. True to the theme, we avoided purchasing anything new, and went to the ends of Mumbai, sourcing for things we could bring back, wash, reuse, and then return or recycle.
Our fashion trend pages stay away from must- have pieces and focus on the classics that always stay in style. We had an interesting chat with fashion designer James Ferreira and his structured focus on slow living. One of our contributors has sketched out the importance of cultural sustainability in today’s fashion world, while another spoke with brands to understand why the sustainable movement hasn’t still caught up in the world of plus-size fashion.
We also look at two mega fashion events that took place in Mumbai this season. The iconic Dior show at the Gateway of India, and the launch of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center, shone the spotlight on India’s role in global fashion. Fashion influencer and entrepreneur Diipa Büller-Khosla writes about her experience at the two events.
In the beauty section, we introduce you to the term waterless beauty. While it is still a new phenomenon, it seems like the way forward to a sustainable future. We also do a deep dive into the concept of refillable beauty.
Our cover girl in this issue is Devita Saraf, a business icon, a fashionista and a visionary. We caught up with the star to understand how she perceives the world of business and seamlessly translates that power into her personal and professional life.
In April, we also held the first-ever Indian edition of the ELLE Sustainability Awards. It’s a platform to recognise and award the changemakers in the field of sustainability and spark meaningful conversations around including sustainable practices in fashion and beauty. Head to our Features section to get an in-depth look at everything that went down that evening.
We enjoyed putting together this page- turner, and we hope you love reading it too.
