Fashionistas embrace sustainability, pick handloom as festive choice

BHUBANESWAR: In a changed world of devotee-less Pujas, festive fashion too is reinventing itself. Clothes that are environment-friendly, biodegradable and made of breathable fabric, especially handloom, are much in demand.
While the timeless saree and other ethnic wear remain popular, the fashion-conscious in the city are also embracing separates. Several government initiatives and videos by eminent persons and influencers showcasing handloom, traditional fabrics and hand-painted motifs have resonated with the people.

“Handloom, be it in cotton, tussar or silk, is breathable, comfortable in our kind of weather and biodegradable.Besides, it is sustainable. A saree can be made into a gown or some other garment later,” said Choudhury Jyoshna Das, a city-based fashion designer.
Youngsters feel handwoven fabrics bear the personal touch of the weaver. “The care with which they are woven makes these clothes attractive and gives the wearer a unique personality,” said Aishwarya Panda, a product designer with an IT firm.
Barsha Priyadarshini, a doctor and insurance medical officer in Dhenkanal, said she felt proud to showcase her culture and state through handloom. “Whenever I wear a saree or any other garment in a fabric from Odisha, I get queries from others who want similar clothes,” she added.
Fashion designer Lipsa Hembram, who has been promoting tribal fabrics, feels trendy blouses teamed with statement necklaces have attracted youngsters to sarees. Besides, the ‘Wear Handloom’ and ‘Be Vocal About Local’ campaigns have also increased the visibility of these clothes.
Designer Pankaja Sethi agrees. “Nowadays, people try to follow fashion bloggers for their styles. Influencers from Odisha experiment a lot as far as saree draping is concerned,” she said.
“To popularise handloom further, we need more design intervention, product diversification and patterns. This is where designers play an important role as they are responsible for crafting of new pieces,” said Lipsa, who is currently working as the designer for a weaver cluster in Balangir.
Rina Routray, a social scientist who works for weavers’ welfare, said not only does fusion wear look fashionable, it is also cheaper than a complete handloom garment.