Local sustainability initiatives 3
Thinking about the fashion industry, it’s easy to sink into the saddening realities of sweatshop labour, energy intensive textile processes and Kim Kardashian strutting around in real furs. However, Shivangi has created a breath of sustainable air with her own fashion line, Inaaya, formed from leftover raw materials of luxury fabrics from fashion designers in the city.
Inaaya claims to be environmentally friendly, not just on paper, but throughout the entire flow system of production. As well as using organic fabrics, she is an advocate of fair trade too; all the tailors and embroiders for her collections are paid 20% more than the established industry rate.
India, a country that makes up for 2.4% of the world land, yet it supports 16% of its population. Over the course of the last decade, India’s exceptional growth has seen more employment opportunities and paved the way for millions of its natives to escape the claws of poverty.
However, with every silver lining there is always associated, a cloud. Well, this one is laced with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter of various classifications.
The World Bank conducted a survey on the environments of 178 countries and India was ranked 155 th overall and almost last in air pollution exposure. In addition to this, another survey on the G-20 economies found that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities are found in India.
India, a country that makes up for 2.4% of the world land, yet it supports 16% of its population. Over the course of the last decade, India’s exceptional growth has seen more employment opportunities and paved the way for millions of its natives to escape the claws of poverty.
However, with every silver lining there is always associated, a cloud. Well, this one is laced with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter of various classifications.
The World Bank conducted a survey on the environments of 178 countries and India was ranked 155 th overall and almost last in air pollution exposure. In addition to this, another survey on the G-20 economies found that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities are found in India.
To regurgitate the classic tagline of environmentalists everywhere –
“Think global, act local” , we all have to start somewhere. And why not make that ‘somewhere’ here.
Want me to start you off? Okay, the weekly Farmers Market in Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai. Every Sunday morning from October to March, local farmers and residents from Mumbai congregate at the Farmers Market for a feast of organically grown fruits & veggies for sale.
Farmers Markets are great places to shop organically, as well as meeting like-minded people and contributing directly to your community. To accompany the abundance of goodness and greens, the market also hosts other local treats such as relaxing foot massages, music from the Natural Streets for Performing Arts (NSPA) and workshops for kids.