Are you contributing to textile waste? Choose what you wear wisely

The A to Z of

waste

is an awareness building Instagram series started by

Saritha Sudhakaran

, curator of

the Waste Less Project

. The intent of the series is to engage with people in 26 sessions on the topic of waste and to simplify how waste management functions pan India.

While most people are aware of the basic level of segregation that must be carried out, which is wet and dry, many are not aware how to manage specialised waste categories like e-waste, textiles waste, hazardous waste or even sanitary waste. Saritha uses Instagram (@wastelesspro) to reach out to her audience and communicates through a series of quick videos, images and Instagram Live sessions with experts from the field.

For the letter ‘F’, the topic of

Fast Fashion

was covered, where Saritha invited

designer Ninoshka Alvares

– Delaney, to offer her insights. Being the second most polluting industry in the world, Ninoshka spoke of the impact that fast fashion has on the environment and how this affects the waste stream. “Big companies even incinerate stock to ensure exclusivity, or to get rid of previous season’s unsold stock. The chemical processes, and artificial fibres end up in oceans or landfills causing plastic pollution,” says Ninoshka. She explained how the industry chain affects the planet, right from manufacturing processes which release chemicals into the environment, to end of the life cycle incineration and landfill of the garments. Giving an insight on how labour is exploited in the fast fashion industry.



Ninoshka offered tips adopting four key points, to maintain a sustainable wardrobe. These were

1. How frequently are you going to wear the garment? Choose classic styles.

2. Quality over quantity – Choose a product that lasts long, and does not deteriorate over time, rather than buying multiple cheap products that are use and throw.

3. Make it last by caring for the product.

4. Think of the afterlife of the product. Are you going to re-gift it? Donate it to someone? Recycle or upcycle it?