– Anirwan Bansriyar, Design Director, Aquarelle Pvt. Ltd.
The topic of the hour is undoubtedly the pandemic, perhaps the biggest crisis that our generation has witnessed so far.
Over the last few decades, we have paced our growth at a very fast rate. In the process, we have overused or rather destroyed vital natural resources. Maybe this pandemic is nature’s way to tell us to SLOW DOWN. Slow down developments, technologies, and sustainably enjoy what we have discovered so far. Enjoy them to the fullest, across populations and walks of life, till we go onto the next level of innovations.
As a responsible fashion professional, how can we contribute towards this cause? This is my question to you.
This crisis shall have a great impact on processes, and consequently ask for significant transformation of future lifestyles. We will most likely be looking at a different kind of living. The total impact – economical, social, and environmental – would give a new perspective on our consumption habits. Priorities in life shall change. A change that is must for creating a better tomorrow.
Taking a streamlined perspective of the Fashion, Apparels, and Textiles industry in specific, we may want to look at:
Responsible apparel: “Buy only that which lasts long” could be the new mantra. Quality over quantity may dawn in the retail industry sooner than expected. Product longevity, practicality, and versatility shall play the lead roles. Sustainability should be looked as a way of life and more than a social responsibility. ‘Up-cycling’, i.e., giving a second life to a product can enhance the lifecycle of an apparel and contribute towards minimizing the impact on our ever-growing landfills.
Wellness textiles may occupy a large space in one’s wardrobe. Bio-manufactured materials derived from living cultures of bacteria, algae, and yeast used for grown textiles can change the whole dimension of the textile world. Renewable and biodegradable properties come naturally with it. This will considerably ease as well as combat microfiber pollution. Algae-based materials can also provide numerous wellness benefits. Bio-modified nano textiles can bring protection against viruses and harmful bacteria.
Smart Textiles: ‘Smart’ textiles serving as your second skin may see a bright future. An apparel monitoring one’s blood pressure and temperature can be a revolutionary idea. We may as well witness a mood-changing textile in the near future. A textile that can presume, predict, and protect the wearer from harmful microbes by monitoring body functioning such as temperature, perspiration, heart rate, etc.
I truly believe that humankind will tackle this crisis together and even go onto take important lessons from it, being more responsible and proactive towards creating a safer, healthier planet.
Till we meet again in person or virtually.
With clean hands, changed hearts and warm wishes,
Anirwan Bansriyar
This was another special feature blog by the ‘creatively charged’ and brimming-with-thought-provoking-ideas – Anirwan Bansriyar, a NIFT alum with a colourful career in Fashion & Apparels, currently working as the Design Director of Aquarelle Pvt. Ltd.
We at NKC will continue to present interesting, pertinent insights across industries with the help of our wide network, and the much-appreciated collaboration of our contributors. NKC is an end-to-end job solutions provider that bridges the gap between job seekers and employers. We have recently established a new vertical as job consultants in the education sector while continuing to be a forerunning fashion & textile recruitment agency and staffing company.
