India is a global leader in manufacturing and one of the largest consumer markets for fashion. Investing in innovations and simultaneously building supply chain capabilities will be critical for faster innovation adoption and scale-up, says a report…writes Puja Gupta.
Fashion for Good and Circular Apparel Innovation Factory have come up with a comprehensive overview of the “State of Circular Innovation in the Indian Fashion and Textile Industry” that outlines the opportunities and solutions across the Indian supply chains that are enabling the industry to leap towards sustainability.
This report, mapping the entire landscape, showcases the opportunities driving the industry in India forward.
Investing in fashion innovation in India. (Photo: Unsplash)
“This report is not only an indepth look into the Indian innovation landscape, but an invaluable tool for anyone looking to make a positive impact in the region. With action and all industry actors coming together to capitalise on these innovations, India is positioned to transform the fashion industry towards circularity,” said Katrin Ley, Managing Director, Fashion for Good.
Some of the key highlights shared in the report are:
A sustained focus on R&D will be essential to promote upstream innovations. In case of “Raw Materials”, R&D efforts need to focus on developing new natural fibres, bi-synthetics, regenerated fibres and processes that consume fewer chemicals, less water and energy. Such efforts also need to be directed towards enhancing compatibility of such products with existing equipment and infrastructure available in India.
Public-private engagement and appropriate policy incentives will be necessary for establishing and strengthening local supply chains (supply side interventions) to ensure availability of, and access to, innovative circular products. This will be particularly relevant for ensuring production and seamless availability of alternative products, particularly in the “Raw Materials” and “Wet and Dry Processing” phases of the supply chain.
Fashion and generation Gen Z.
Investing in innovations and simultaneously building supply chain capabilities will be critical for faster innovation adoption and scale-up. This requirement holds true across the supply chain phases to spur demand for innovative products and processes.
Up-skilling of workers in the supply chain will facilitate easier innovation adoption and job protection. This flows naturally from the earlier point on developing supply chain capabilities and is also applicable throughout the supply chain, especially in phases where innovation unfolds in the form of mechanisation.
The halt over the market and economy due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought a severe economic issue to the industries all over the world. The situation has introduced us to a rapid change in lifestyle as well as the whereabouts of running the economy within the hemisphere of risk and adaptation…writes Puja Gupta.
Affected severely by store closures and not responsive to e-commerce, the jewellery industry is one of the luxury segments that has suffered the most from the consequences of the health crisis. The long-term effect of this catastrophe is more intense and consequential to every aspect of society, says Ageerika Hari, Founder, Vaitaanika.
“Many businesses irrespective of their size, were forced to shut down and others were just limping without any precautionary measure and absence of hope to survive. People feared for their jobs, their lives, and their dwindling toilet paper supplies. They went into survival mode, stocking up on essentials and forgetting everything else,” she says.
Online jewellery: Millennials, minimalism and the marketplace. (Photo: Pixabay)
No one – not even the trend analysts are exactly sure what the future of fashion looks like, what they agreed on is that, because of the pandemic, the future of clothing and Jewellery is arriving way ahead of schedule, with back-burner projects front-burner and fashion’s never-ending hamster wheel getting a good, hard look.
The pandemic has also forged people to change their taste while adapting to a certain lifestyle including food, cosmetic, jewellery, etc. The current scenario of the fashion life is always on a peak, of course, certain aspects that have affected the industry and declined surplus, Hari says.
“People may have just stopped taking the effort to dress like before. Styles of fashion in a simple and classy Jewellery will emerge largely than before. Choosing Plains or Solids overprints and pattern or neutrals over new trending colours jewels is being seen for workwear fashion. For people who operate a small jewellery business, the impact of COVID-19 has seen a shift from in-person sales to online sales.”
“This is perhaps the biggest indicator of where the jewellery industry is headed as a result of the pandemic. Learning a new normal happened nearly overnight for many small businesses and making changes and figuring out how to proceed is something that is going to impact how these small businesses are run for many years to come.”
How Indian jewellery market will adapt with the pandemic.
People used their time in quarantine to evaluate their life and their values and many of them are now purchasing jewellery as a self-care measure to reward themselves for their time in quarantine. Others are buying jewellery for loved ones as a way to acknowledge the difficulties we’ve been through during the pandemic.
Also, people are shopping as a way to escape the reality of what’s happening in the world. This pandemic has inevitably changed the fashion industry forever. The necessity to purchase clothing or Jewellery frequently no longer exists.
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja who is also known for her style statements, says she never intends to dress up for others because her style statement is all about her individuality and self-expression.
“I realised I don’t care and just did what I wanted to do, because of my upbringing. I did what I felt like doing. I think that’s what girls and boys should be able to do. Nobody should be giving you permission. My style statement, if there is one, of me being a complete individual. I like being myself and expressing myself. I don’t believe in dressing for others or dressing for someone’s opinion, it’s just for myself, my individuality, my self-expression,” she claimed.
The actress has played a girl next door in films such as “Saawariya”, “Delhi-6”, “Raanjhanaa”, and “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, and she is also known for her sense of high fashion in her public appearance.
The actress shared how clothes and jewellery she received in legacy hold sentimental value.
“My Nani left me her wedding jewellery. They are simple, old, small and beautiful. She left me pearls as well that I wore at my wedding. It was a necklace. I also wore a necklace that my father gifted my mother on her 50th birthday. It is one of my most prized possessions as my father gave it to my mother and she gave it to me,” she said.
Shilpa Shetty shared a mantra to stay fit, positive and increase self-confidence.
The actress, who defies age with her fitness, took to her verified Twitter account to share a photo where she can be seen performing yoga amidst mountains.
“The power and potential to achieve all that your heart desires invested in your mind. Don’t allow your age to determine what you can and can’t do. Surround yourself with people and situations that emit positivity. Your determination stems from within. Work on the energy within and around you. Believe YOU CAN and trust me, YOU WILL!” tweeted the actress, who is currently in scenic Manali.
Shilpa Shetty tries archery in new video post
Shilpa is known for being a fitness enthusiast and yoga lover. She keeps sharing photos and videos of her performing yoga asanas and shares words of encouragement for her followers on social media.
On Monday, Shilpa had shared a video performing an asana. The actress also revealed the benefits of the asana.
She wrote: “Being able to connect with your inner self amid the quiet surroundings of Manali is a blessing. When the mind is at peace, nothing seems difficult to do. This flow is the Eka pada Navasana going in to Supta Padmasana. It helps improve blood circulation while it strengthens the core, lower back, and pelvic muscles. Additionally, it stretches the hamstring and ankles too! No matter what your day looks like, make sure to dedicate a few minutes to yoga. Try it!”
Shilpa is currently shooting for her upcoming film “Hungama 2” in the hill town Manali. The comedy film, directed by Priyadarshan, also stars Paresh Rawal, Meezaan and Pranitha Subhash.
Singer Sunidhi Chauhan will be part of a fundraiser that aims to support families of cancer patients who are struggling with expenses of medical treatment, especially during the pandemic. The digital concert will be held on Saturday.
Titled BIG Cafe Online with Sunidhi Chauhan, the 45-minute event will see the singer belt out her most popular chartbusters. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Indian Cancer Society for the treatment of the needy, with a hope to spread the message of survival and unity.
“This fundraiser musical concert in its digital avatar will be the medium where we can reach out to people across the country as all the funds will be donated to the patients for their medical aid. I am happy to do my bit for their welfare and I would like to urge all my fans to come forward and support the cause,” said Sunidhi, about the concert, hosted by BIG FM.
World Tourism Day: Jaipur, Goa, Kochi to be most popular leisure destinations.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has altered our lives in unimaginable ways; social distancing has become the — new normal and the — big fat Indian wedding has now embraced smaller, more intimate weddings. It definitely seems small is the new big!
Instead of worrying about what it used to be, couples are chasing the silver lining in this new situation. With restrictions on guest lists, many to-be-weds are leveraging this opportunity to make their dream destination wedding come true!
The pandemic has given couples the chance to tie the knot against the backdrop of an exquisite location, either outside the city without worrying about going over the budget.
A destination wedding that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket is no longer just a fantasy. Expert from Weddingz.in shares the five most budget-friendly cities to host one’s small and dreamy wedding.
Welcome Hotel The Savoy.
Goa
With its sun-kissed beaches and breathtaking views, Goa makes for the perfect destination for an intimate and fun wedding. Couples can choose to host their wedding ceremony at a stunning beach resort without having to spend exorbitantly. Goa is host to umpteen affordable resorts with private beaches, little old-style Portuguese inns and budget-friendly homestays. Apart from being easily accessible via road, air and rail, Goa has a host a lot of restaurants which blend local and continental flavours, and this makes it a perfect destination for a small wedding.
Jaipur
Known as India’s Pink City, Jaipur is steeped in royal history and culture. Apart from being a favoured tourist hotspot, it is also a viable destination for weddings. Jaipur is home to an array of new-age boutique guest-houses and homestays that are pocket-friendly and ideal for wedding festivities with a limited guest list. At homestays and inns, couples can choose curated cuisine, customised dining setup and much more. Jaipur is also easily connected to all major Indian cities and towns and hence, makes for a perfect mini wedding destination.
Pune
Nestled in the lap of the Sahyadri Mountains, Pune makes for an ideal location for a small destination wedding. The city has tons of budget-friendly hotels, farms, resorts and holiday homes. Also, apart from its proximity to all major cities and towns in and around Mumbai, Pune city has the right mix of old-style Maharashtrian culture and new-age city vibes. The cool and dry weather is another upside for those looking to have outdoor weddings.
World Tourism Day: Jaipur, Goa, Kochi to be most popular leisure destinations.
Mussoorie
This hill station town in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range is nothing short of a paradise for couples looking to get hitched. Mussoorie provides an array of breathtaking locales and vistas that couples can choose from. The hill town is full of homestays, hotels and little rustic inns, with local vendors offering reasonable prices for all necessary wedding prep as compared to mainstream cities. This makes for a perfect destination to host a low-budget yet festive wedding.
Chandigarh
With a host of 3-star hotels and farmhouses, the city blends well for small budget-friendly weddings. Hosting an outdoor farm wedding requires minimal spending on the decor, instead one can add some DIY decor personalised as per the couple’s taste. An extremely well-connected city- Chandigarh is also home to some of North India’s cuisine and is one of the greenest and cleanest cities in India. Add up all these factors and you have your perfect micro-wedding destination!
The pandemic may have played spoilsport for a lot of the couple’s grand wedding plans, but on the brighter side, it has given rise to intimate wedding ceremonies that can be celebrated with the closest friends and family. As an added perk, Weddingz.in is also offering jaw-dropping offers that can be availed by couples looking to book wedding related services.
Wrestler Ritu Phogat shares her nutritional routine. (Photo: rituphogat48/ instagram)
Wrestler Ritu Phogat shares her nutritional routine. (Photo: rituphogat48/ instagram)
Indian wrestling champion and rising atom weight star Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat is an elite athlete. Her rigorous training schedule, which consists of multiple training sessions throughout the day, touching on disciplines such as Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, as such requires a strict and sustainable nutritional plan.
Phogat is a naturally strong athlete, her raw strength no doubt inherited from her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, who is considered the patriarch of the Phogat wrestling clan.
Since moving to Singapore from India to train at the Evolve MMA, Phogat has had to change her diet, and upgrade in areas necessary to keep up with the growing demands of her world-class training regimen.
She shares with IANSlife her diet, health and fitness regimen, as well as some of her favourite things.
“My diet in India was a Pehlwan diet. Pehlwani in India is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. You train in Akharas, you eat organic food, you have lots of almonds, milk, and ghee. You train for six hours a day, and you eat, and you rest. That’s the mantra of being fit,” said Phogat.
“Over the years, I used to follow the diet but it would change when I started going to camp and international tournaments. So you have to adjust a little there. But one thing consistent is ghee, that is very good for your body. Even here in Singapore, when I came in last year, I ensured I ate home cooked meals as I find that tasty and healthy.”
Phogat is deep in training now, finalising her latest training camp in preparation for her next bout. She’s been living and training in Singapore since last year, when she joined Evolve MMA, all the way up to current, as she spent most of her time training in Singapore’s ecircuit breaker’ lockdown period.
While at home, Phogat says she’s enjoyed her time preparing her own food as a way to cope with stress.
Wrestler Ritu Phogat shares her nutritional routine. (Photo: rituphogat48/ instagram)
“I enjoy cooking. It is my stress burner. I made many new dishes during lockdown. Roti with ghee and kadhi are my favorite. Maintaining a proper diet is very important to pair with a workout routine, especially as a professional athlete,” she said.
“My diet has changed a lot. Back home in India, I had access to natural homemade foods and proteins. But since my move to Singapore, I have had to include supplements, multivitamins and protein powders in my diet. I follow a strict diet schedule that my coach has provided me with.”
Phogat returned to action with her win against Cambodian Kun Khmer World Champion Nou Srey Pov in a three round mixed martial arts contest.
In the main event, reigning ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar defends his middleweight title against top contender Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder of The Netherlands.
Phogat is “more than ready”, and wants to show fans all of the improvements she’s made since her last performance, particularly with an exciting finish.
“I have been working on perfecting a lot of other techniques, but wrestling has formed the bedrock of a lot of my efforts in MMA. Techniques like the takedown are very easy for me. Initially, I had a lot of trouble with striking and jiu jitsu, but now I have improved all of this,” said Phogat.
“This third victory is important as it will bring me one step closer to being a world champion.”
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut says the one thing she misses the most about Mumbai is horseback riding every other morning.
Kangana tweeted a series of pictures riding a horse.
Alongside the image, she wrote: “One thing I miss the most about Mumbai is horseback riding every other morning in race course, I have never been a sports person but I find meditative partnership with my horse, being one with another being is such as exhilarating experience #MondayMotivation.”
Kangana was in her hometown in Himachal Pradesh for a long time during lockdown, far from the maddening crowd.
The actress recently revealed her inner poet yet again and penned a poem about love and longing for summer. She shared the poem, titled “Aasman”, along with a soothing video, which has been shot at her place in Manali.
“Poem I wrote and shot this summer, as winter approaches reminiscing Aasman,” she wrote as she shared the video on Twitter.
The video has a voiceover by Kangana, as she recites her poem. It also talks about doubting a lover’s affection, using the vastness of the sky as an allegory. The clip shows Kangana enjoying summer in the mountains, lying in the grass.
The virtual edition of IFFDs India Runway Week that concluded recently saw veteran fashion designers like Rohit Bal, Ashima Leena, Abhinav Mishra, Amit GT and others showcase their collection in a digital format.
Ball, the finale designer, showcased an affordable range of his latest creations made from organic fabrics like malmal and Chanderi. He said: “This time around we had showcased an affordable range so that the brand could reach the masses virtually and people can have a look at this collection for the upcoming festive season”.
Rohit Bal’s collection.
He added: “The idea was to reach a wider set of the audience because people are more active digitally these days, so IRW’s second edition happened at the right time when the festive season was knocking on our doors!”
Amit’s collection comprised of ensembles for various wedding functions like Haldi, Mehendi, reception, Sagan and wedding. He said: “I did the virtual edition of IRW as it was the right time since the wedding season is around.”
Commenting on the experience of doing a virtual fashion show, Leena from Ashima Leena said: “The new technique of green screen was very impressive. The outcome of the whole show was really nice. In the times of Covid when everything has become virtual, IRW took it to another level.”
Designer Poonam Dubey’s collection was presented by Avon Watch me which was about celebrating the transformation of women of different walks of life. Dubey presented an Indian festive collection. Virtues’ collections, known as Banaras Gherana, is made of Benarasi silk and had sarees, lehengas, and anarkalis.
Designer duo Leconat Hement launched a daily wear collection inspired by nature.
It has been a challenging year, but come the season of festivities and it’s all about the sparkles and celebrations. It has also been a year where many have discovered themselves and found their inner light. Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar spreads some cheer as she joins hands with Swarovski to celebrate the journey of self-discovery and inspiration in its latest campaign #CelebrateTheSparkle. To mark the occasion of Diwali, the brand has curated a brilliant selection of jewellery, watches and accessories that inspire women to express themselves.
Pednekar is among a handful of actresses who is not only celebrated for her work in the industry but also for being vocal towards the betterment of the society, whether it is through her social work towards climate change or the kind of roles she does which challenge societal norms. IANSlife caught up with the multifaceted personality and Swarovski to find out more about how they represent today’s modern woman. Read Excerpts:
It has been a challenging year, but also one of self-discovery. During this lockdown, have you discovered any interest and habits you never thought you had?
It’s been a tough year and I have discovered a lot about myself. But I think more than discovery, there were thoughts and things that I always had in my mind but never had the time to do those things. And in this lockdown, I started experimenting with a couple of things that I realised I really enjoy doing; for example – gardening, my mom and I, we created a kitchen garden, only to realise later that it’s seasonal because of Bombay’s monsoons. There was a point when we were growing tomatoes, chillies, pomegranate, bitter guard eggplant and various green, leafy vegetables – overall, a very wholesome kitchen garden. And eventually we ended up cooking two meals exclusively sourced from my garden, this was extremely exciting and therapeutic.
Apart from that, something that I started filming myself while getting my glam on! I have always enjoyed beauty tremendously but this time I decided to film it, put it on social media; that got a lot of love. It’s something I am going to continue doing because I feel, spending that time with myself while I get ready, is so therapeutic and its very important for many girls and boys, to love yourself. So, overall that time for self-love is something that I put in, during this lockdown.
I think another thing that I really ventured into was going back to my books. I re-visited a lot of my history lessons and I read up a lot on geography, climate change, sustainable living, etc. I tried re-educating myself in things that I used to be interested in.
And one thing we all took away from this time, is a more sustainable form of living; it’s something that my entire family consciously tried doing. Even though people are using gloves, masks and there’s an incredible amount of garbage being created – we tried keeping it all under control by adopting better habits, and this is something we have inculcated in this lockdown.
This Diwali, instead of socialising and partying, do you feel one should celebrate with family to find the inner light in all?
I feel that this Diwali, instead of socialising, we should spend time with our loved ones because that is the most responsible thing to do. We have to understand that, yes – it’s times for festivities and we need our spirits high, but its also very important to be responsible. The virus is still very active and we can’t pretend like everything is okay.
Diwali is all about the victory of good over evil and we have to be victorious over the virus. So, please stay home and spend time with your family so that the next Diwali can be different.
Women have had to bear the brunt of the lockdown- the burden juggling work, family and taking care of domestic chores. Do you feel this is the right time for women to indulge in themselves, even if no one else does?
Bhumi Pednekar
Absolutely! It’s the best time for women to treat themselves. I think its been difficult times for both women and men, both. A lot of us are spending this much of time with our families after a very long time; we were cleaning, we were cooking, we were working and especially for women because usually in our culture, most of the domestic pressure comes on them. So, I think Diwali is a great time for women to pamper themselves. The modern, Indian woman is independent. She is not dependent on what her partner is going to bring for her and that is the beauty of the way our society is evolving.
Go and buy that piece of jewellery you love. It’s going to be timeless and it is going to be there for ever. I personally love the Tennis Deluxe collection and a Crystal Flower watch from Swarovski.
You have been vocal towards the betterment of the society through your social work; what do you think is of urgent attention and how can people work towards it?
I have always said that the thing that needs immense amount of attention today has to be the climate emergency that the world is in right now. Climate change is real. It’s happening and we really need to do whatever we can to slow it down. We cannot reverse it but we can definitely slow it down and at an individual level change things.
I think it’s very important to support business that believe in sustainability, that believe in going green and blue. There are a lot of things in the society that need attention, be it – equality between both the sexes, be it equality between all the species and I feel that there is an urgent need for a surge of compassion between humans. We need to understand that we are not invincible and are nothing in front of the wrath of nature. There is a lot of divide on so many levels that’s happening between us and this has to stop.
Tell us a little about your association with Swarovski.
It is an honor, to be honest, to be associated with Swarovski, that too on Diwali. Swarovski as a brand has always innovated and maintained what they stand for in the last 125 years. It is a brand that has a rich heritage, craftmanship and elegance. They have been responsible to their consumers and to society. I feel great to be associated with the brand, because I have grown up wearing it and enjoyed wearing their pieces thoroughly.
Bhumi celebrates Diwali with sparkle.
Diwali is such a great festival and specially this year when things have not been great, I see Diwali as an occasion where people will come together to celebrate. Diwali is about pampering yourself. The Diwali collection by the brand this year is so beautiful – they have a mix of contemporary and understated pieces that one can mix and match with whatever you end up wearing. The collection is an amalgamation of modern with classic.
How does Swarovski as a brand compliment you?
I have a rather long journey with Swarovski from a consumer point-of-view. The first, slightly luxurious, thing that my parents gifted my sister and I were these iconic, silicon Swarovski bands where mine was orange in colour and my sister’s was red. It had Swarovski crystals all over and a small bracelet. It was the first thing that my parents gave me!
I was in class 10th and my aunt gifted me one of Swarovski’s extendable bracelets from that time. So, I have been using their pieces since I was very young and what I love about the brand the most is that they have something for every age, every occasion and every piece has a lot of emotional value as well. So, for me, Swarovski has always been about inspiring, sparkling, timelessness and about elegance; at the same time it really resonates with what your modern-day woman is all about. This year is so special for me, I am really proud to be a part of the campaign, the first ever Bollywood face to be associated with the brand and bring delight to everyone this Diwali!
