Millennials, a driving force towards Sustainability

Fashion & Sustainability (Representative Image)

By Preshita Thakur

State of Fashion 2018 report by BoF and McKinsey reveals that nearly sixty percent of global millennials are willing to spend on sustainable brands. Nielsen have dubbed 2018 as the year of the influential sustainable consumer which they credit entirely to the millennials and their shopping patterns.

Millennials as a word refers to people born between the early 1980s to late 1990s, marked by their increased use and familiarity with communication, media, and digital technologies. A very common misconception is that millennials are into ‘fads’, as in, short-lived trends. But aren’t we all confusing millennials as the immature type, not at all concerned about the quality of their consumption, wasting their money on whatever that’s ‘in trend’?

It is high time we clear those judgemental clouds and see where today’s generation is headed to. What better way to learn about them if we don’t include fashion as a way to understand the word ‘sustainable’ which has ended up in their regular life jargon.

Mehak Sharma, a millenial fashion blogger with more than 40k of loyal followers on Instagram, says; “everyone knows what sustainability is. We’ve all studied it at school, in college, but what makes us different is our action”. She points out that her regular posts about skin care are popular because people want to know about these brands which don’t hurt the environment as well as their skin. “They’re very conscious about the chemicals”, she says.

We’ve all heard “to kill two birds with one stone”, and millennials are the ones doing it when it comes to fashion and sustainability. You don’t have to buy clothes synthetically made to be fashionable, you don’t have to use makeup made from chemicals, all of which is more or less impossible to decompose. That is where sustainable and eco-friendly; the new ‘it’ terms in the world of fashion comes in.

Designer Mercy Renthlei, who started her own accessories label ‘MERCY’ last year, points out to the same principle for using canvas and other eco-friendly fabrics. “It is a good investment with varying results, less clutter everywhere, plus consciously I’m doing good”, says she.

It is no wonder that names like Forest Essentials, Innisfree, Khadi Natural are a hit for their natural skincare and beauty products. Indian brands such as Pero, Nicobar, Bodice, 11:11 are all popular for their sustainable yet fashionable clothes and accessories.

‘Sustainable’ is such a hit that major fast fashion retailers like H&M have also introduced their own line called “Conscious” to cater to the growing niche consumers. Celebrities like Emma Watson regularly promotes sustainable fashion as witnessed with a separate Instagram account where she details everything sustainable she wears and uses.

The fact is that today, millennials have far more spending power and are willing to contribute towards an ethical cause. However, more brands need to identify this developing supermarket which will not only help them but also our home, our ecosystem. And to people who have still not thought about this, now is the time to think and act accordingly.

Sharing is success

By Arjita & Priyanka                                                                  

Jyoti Dogra during one of the rounds in the
Miss Himalaya 2014

TAB:“That day I came back confident, being the only one who spoke for the 10 minutes that we had to,” she reminisces first day of the Miss Himalaya 2014 contest. Contestants had an hour to prepare a 10 minute speech. Speaking on ‘negative impact of tourism in Himachal’, she opined that increasing commercialization, drug abuse were some of the problems, while solutions lay in ecotourism – where environment protection and making a profit went hand in hand. In the ‘talent’ round that followed, she sang ‘Climb’ by Miley Cyrus.

On the second and final day of the pageant, models hit the ramp and introduced themselves. “With courage and determination, one can do absolutely anything," she said. It looked like a festive carnival – colorful dresses, heavy ornaments – Tibetan and Himachali culture filled the stage when participants adorned their ‘traditional wear’ in the second round. “What does success mean to you?” she was asked in the 5th and final ‘Q&A’ round. “It is not the amount of money or bank balance, but the satisfaction one gets by sharing, and giving back to the society. So when I die, I’ll tell myself, this was a big success,”  she said.

                Jyoti Dogra is Miss Himalaya 2014. Back in her university, she is a student, struggling to complete her projects in time. And making time for the socio-cultural activities, she recently won the pan-India debate on ‘Role of Earth Sciences in Preventing Environmental Degradation’ organized by the Indian Geological Congress.

Fighting winter in cotton shirt

By Arjita & Shradha

TAB:Woolen sweater: check, gloves: check, socks: check, warm bunny cap: check – folks are bundled up to battle chilly Himachal winters. But one man walks around like summer’s here. “If Gandhiji could wear a dhoti and shawl the entire year, why not us?” he explains. Famous in the campus for his all-year-round outfit – a white cotton half-sleeve shirt, trousers and chappals, it’s the curious case of Dr. S. Sundraraman.

We hear often of ‘a flexible mind and a strong body’, but his motto comes with a twist, “A strong mind and a flexible body”. Movement is the key, “Pilgrims who walk up till Vaishno Devi start removing their warm clothes on the way – as the body becomes hot”. He enjoys a walk, uses little transportation. After an early morning cold water bath, he walks around while completing house chores. He always bathes with cold water, twice a day.

A vegetarian, he consumes seasonal food - sometimes in raw form, sometimes without salt - the diet varies. “People get defensive, I get adaptive,” says he. In the scorching summers of Tamil Nadu, in his home-state, he doesn’t use a fan. No prize for guessing then his dislike for AC. The trick is to, “manipulate little of the outside, instead change the inside.”

He pursued higher education alongside a 16 year service in the Indian Air Force. Retired, he completed a PhD, and began teaching at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior. He has been in Himachal for two years now, teaching at the School of Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Management in CUHP. Never once spotted as someone biting the cold, he seems to taste it.

"Jo dar gaya, wo mar gaya,” he believes. Is it that easy to adapt? “To get used to a change in weather, my body needs 48 hours. I don’t suggest anyone to follow my routine suddenly. This has been my way of life for 25 years.”