The opening show on Sustainable Fashion Day at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2019, was a unique collaboration between C&A Foundation, a corporate foundation here to transform the fashion industry, and 11.11/eleven eleven; a Prét label by the entrepreneurs Shani Himanshu, and Mia Morikawa. The two organisations came together to share a collection made from sustainable, organic cotton sourced directly from a certified producer. They also invited farmers to take the stage to share their experience of organic cultivation.
The collaboration created a dialogue about the sustainable and organic cotton movement in the Indian fashion industry. C&A Foundation was in conversation with two small holder farmers from Madhya Pradesh to elaborate on the health and economic benefits that were a result of adopting sustainable cotton farming practices. The farmers urged the audience to commit to organic not just for the farmers but for the environment as well.
THE 11.11/ELEVEN ELEVEN
To the melodious strains of Indian music by a quartet, the show unveiled the beauty of cotton in all its glorious looks.
Fabric Story
Khadi Cotton, organic cotton and from organic cotton manufacturers of knits along with chambray Khadi.
Shade Card
The Khadi was in solid and natural yarn dyed stripes in varying weights, while some of the cotton was from an indigenous rain fed organic cotton called ‘kala’ cotton from Gujarat.
Highlights
Top stitches, pleating, gathers, wide diaphanous silhouettes came together seamlessly.
Men’s wear was relaxed, with Bandhani and chambray playing an important role for kurta, shorts, hoodies, joggers, and overall with large Bandhani, hand spun denim pants and indigo patch work bundi with kala cotton pants.
Shade Card
The colour story remained true to indigo with the dyeing being 100 per cent natural that was from indigo leaves, pomegranate shells, ferrous and tamarind seeds, as well as hints of charcoal, yellow, smoke, ecru and light blue – all shades that were very earthy.
