In India, sustainability has become central to our way of life, we are conscious of how we can positively impact our communities, cities, and the planet. The corporate sector has pledged to do the work required to help India achieve its target of net zero by 2070. Several Indian corporate houses have set decarbonisation targets internally to become carbon neutral by 2050 or before. As India is advancing towards its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 commitment, there is a focus on circular economy practices. The circular economy is a model of consumption and production that focuses on reducing waste by reusing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. It is a move away from the traditional take-make-consume, and then waste model. A circular economy would help achieve several SDGs, such as clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, economic growth, sustainable cities, sustainable consumption and production, climate change, etc.
According to the latest India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) report, India's circular economy development route might generate an annual value of US$ 218 billion by 2030.
This mindset change towards sustainability is being seen across sectors. There is a move towards the use of sustainable materials, techniques, and overhauling of processes to align with sustainable goals. In keeping with our focus on design, we spoke to young designers in the fashion, jewelry, and accessory space, who are incorporating sustainable practices in their work and also generating employment for local craftsmen.
"For designers today, collaborating with the traditional crafts sectors is a step towards helping sustain crafts communities and keeping Indian crafts traditions alive," says Prof. Pradyumna Vyas the former director of the National Institute of Design (NID) and board member of the World Design Organisation (WDO).
Kirgiti
Kirgiti is an apparel and accessories brand that uses traditional handicraft techniques. "At Kirgiti, our mission is to revive and celebrate craftsmanship in our lives while bringing happiness to those who have dedicated their lives to preserving these ancient skills. We work closely with artisans, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents and preserve Indian culture through their crafts" says Arti Gehlot the founder of the brand, and a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) alumna. Gehlot founded the brand in 2018 and started by showcasing her work at exhibitions. Today, her brand collaborates with four different artisan groups, engaging over 150 skilled artisans specialising in crafts like Dabu printing from Jodhpur, Ikat weaving from Hyderabad, Bandhej from Sikar, and others.
Kabbish
Kabbish is a terracotta jewelry brand based on the craft of black pottery of Azamgarh, a city in Uttar Pradesh, India. Started in 2018 by Parul Agarwal, an alumna of the Indian Institute of Craft and Design, Jaipur, the brand initially started with earrings but soon expanded to include necklaces, bracelets, and rings. They began by collaborating with three families of potters in Uttar Pradesh, the number has now risen to ten. The collection was featured at the Lakme Fashion Week and the Asian Designer Week in 2019.
"Kabbish has provided me with an opportunity to create livelihoods for the community of potters and to save the charm and tradition of this craft. Growing with these potters, our brand has contributed significantly to their income," says Agrawal.
Koshur India
Koshur India is a fashion brand that creates contemporary clothing using traditional Kashmiri craftsmanship. The brand is focused on sustainability practices throughout the production journey, prioritising the use of sustainable materials and reducing waste. They work closely with local artisans and craftspeople, promoting fair trade practices. Founded in 2021 by Mehak and Tanya Bakshi, the brand celebrates Kashmiri culture and craftsmanship.
"We strive to create more employment opportunities for artisans in the region, empowering them economically while preserving the traditional crafts of Kashmir. Our goal is to be at the forefront of sustainable and ethical fashion, inspiring others to embrace and appreciate the beauty of Kashmiri culture and craftsmanship," says Bakshi.
Golden Feathers
Founded and driven by Mudita Srivastava and Radhesh Agrahari, the brand produces quilts, shawls, jackets, embroidered stoles, and mufflers using Chicken waste. The company has developed natural wool fiber by up-cycling butchery chicken waste, which is much warmer, softer, and more durable than existing natural and manmade fiber.
After ten years of research, they commercially started the brand in 2019. Once the butchery chicken waste is collected from local poultry slaughterhouses, it is sanitized, and chicken feathers are extracted, which are converted to pulp and yarn for handloom cloth. The company upcycles 57,000kg of chicken feathers per year.
"In the last three years, our organisation has recycled 500 tons of butchery chicken waste into handloom cloth and generated livelihood. We have impacted the lives of over 200 tribal women, 375 semi-skilled and unskilled workers, and empowered over 2000 tribal women through handloom activities" says Argrahari.
At BW Businessworld, we are committed to encouraging young designers. We would love to hear from you, please write to jyotsna@businessworld.in about your work. We will be announcing the dates for the 5th edition of Future of Design soon. Future of Design Summit and Awards 2023.