A tête-à-tête on Sustainability with the Fashion Insider!

What is ‘Fashion’ to you? When I asked this question to myself, the only answer was ‘what I wear & how I look’. But is Fashion just that? In recent times, I have had the privilege to come across some gorgeous & eclectic work of few fashion designers, creative professionals & stylists. This opportunity has not only changed my views but also my approach to Fashion. People tend to miss the baseline of fashion that it is also about behaviour. What you wear & how you look is part of it but in an actual sense how you pursue is the essence of Fashion. I gradually started understanding the silver lining of fashion i.e., what we do with what we have, how do we repurpose the materials and how to be creative to make only necessary designs. And this is where I got introduced to Sustainable Fashion and it got my attention. It is still a buzz word to me & I know for many of you too. So, I decided to have a tête-à-tête on Sustainability with a Fashion Insider. Bringing to you the inside story of sustainable fashion in the era of global pandemic………

We are a generation of hyphenated millennials with multi-faceted interest and spectrums and Mili Nair is no exception. She is a fresh voice to reckon with in the world of Fashion, Publishing and Marketing.

Mili Nair is a concept stylist with British Vogue & Vogue Paris and works as a digital marketing consultant with start-ups. She recently also started working as a global opinion columnist with” The Pioneer”. She writes mainly on global & Indian politics and the luxury and fashion industry.

She is a business graduate with an MBA in Luxury Marketing from ISC Paris & Mode’Art Business School along with a business diploma in entrepreneurship from Harvard Business School. Her life right now is a tale between cities namely - Paris, Mumbai & London and being a fashion insider, we discuss all things fashion and Luxury and the effects of the pandemic on the Business of Fashion.

Me: What is a fashion to you & why did you choose this as your career?

Mili: Fashion to me is an expression of self. I reckon it boils down to a very personal & creative decision making on how we choose to dress, even those who think they have no fashion sense are expressing themselves through their clothes & accessories.

Without trying to sound corny I think I didn't choose fashion as a career, but it chose me. I have studied business management and then went on to study an MBA in luxury marketing because I loved the art & craft of marketing & business. But it was actually a chance meeting with a friend at a Parisian fashion show that ended up in an internship at Vogue Paris and then the world of Fashion opened its doors to me.

Me: What is your personal style or what’s the trend you like the most & have included in your daily lifestyle?

Mili: Well my personal style has a touch of classic & vintage. I am not a fan of fast fashion and like to invest in classic and timeless pieces that would stand the test of time. I love accessories and shoes as a way to make the clothes current instead of a head to toe trend-oriented look.

Currently, as we are slowly transitioning into fall I am loving the menswear-inspired blazers. They are great investment pieces and I absolutely love the juxtaposition of menswear tailoring on feminine silhouettes.

Me: In recent times, there is a huge increase in fashion waste impacting the environment which has given a boost to sustainable fashion. So, what is sustainable fashion according to you?

Mili: True, I am glad that there is an increased awareness about sustainability and the role of the fashion & luxury industry in it. Fashion is sadly a major culprit in poor waste disposal & management which truly affects us all and till very recently the industry has been very blazed about it. The rise of fast fashion consumption has only worsened the problem. But I reckon there is a stream of accountability and consciousness rising amongst the millennials to better understand the ethical practices and environmental effects of their fashion choices and hopefully soon in the next 5-10 years we would see changes in the legal system worldwide to facilitate the solution to this jarring issue.

To me, sustainability is such a wide concept. Think of a t-shirt for example: Where is the cotton grown, how is the shirt made, are the workers fairly paid & what are their working conditions, the ethical logistical channels and the journey to the end consumer and for how long can this garment be used? These are all questions that sustainability covers and hence it requires a deeper understanding of them all in order to change the system to a more sustainable model.

Me: Do you think COVID-19 Pandemic has helped the fashion industry and the public understand the importance of sustainability? How is the industry coping due to the pandemic?

Mili: Yes, Definitely. I have certainly noticed a big change of thought even in my own social circle. I reckon we are all suddenly forced to realize how frivolous some of our spendings have been. I think most of us now also understand the importance of local brands and how we need to support them.

As far as the industry's understanding of sustainable is concerned I think everyone has been aware of the issue, but we all had just succeeded in capitalism and could not imagine a way out of it. The rise of influencer and celebrity culture became a catalyst in this fire. But now due to the pandemic, we are collective as an industry looking for a different model, which is a positive first step in the right direction.

When it comes to the post effects of COVID 19, this has been a horrific time for the fashion & Luxury industry, many big brands have barely survived while many designers who were early opposed to the idea of e-commerce are warming up to the possibilities. It has been tough for smaller brands and designers to sustain during this time; many workers, designers and interns are out of jobs and are looking for new opportunities. But things have slowly started getting back on track in the UK and Europe in general and also India is reopening as well and hence I guess it would take us all another quarter to get back to financial normalcy.

Me: People have the assumption/thought that sustainability comes with a price, is that true according to you?

Mili: Yes, I hear that a lot. Well let's break it down, fast fashion brands have made us all believe that a shirt can cost 12-pound and on sale be sold at even 5 pounds. But in reality, this is only possible due to economies of scale, cheaper labour and poor-quality fabric, otherwise, a piece of clothing has several expenses like fabric costs, rental, warehousing, electricity, fairer wages and then marketing costs.

So maybe on the surface level, it might seem that sustainable brands are in fact more expensive in reality they are probably worth the extra price as they would most definitely last you a longer duration and hence you would get your money's worth in a longer run.

Also, if you are trying to find a sustainable option to fast fashion instead of looking at the foreign brand, look out for smaller boutiques or new designer locally who could use the help and would certainly cost only a fraction of the import duties you would pay otherwise.

Me: Due to COVID-19, buying local or DIY are the sustainable ideas & great push to the local economy & environment. Do you think this has benefited smaller fashion businesses?

Mili: Yes, I don't think we are there yet but surely change is noticeable. I believe the fashion community needs to lobby to make laws that would result in a greater impact. There must be laws that would make it easier to recycle, subsidies to smaller brands who don't benefit from the economies of scale and also fashion industry needs reckoning in terms of the capitalism we feed into through our magazines and fashion shows.

But I think the biggest change will come only when the consumers start asking more questions and ensure accountability comes to term. I certainly do hope we will get there someday.

Me: When people think of sustainable fashion, what do you advise them to think first?

Mili: Think small, before online shopping next or going for another impulse buy, rework your wardrobe and try to find ways to restyle your clothes. Take inspiration from magazines, movies or people whose personal style you admire. This would help in minimizing impulsive buys and getting more wear out of clothes instead of discarding them.

If you do wish to buy, look more closely into fabric blend and types. With some research, you will understand which fabrics work best for your body and climate and your buying choices would then be more mindful. And even if you can't immediately eradicate fast fashion just an increased level of awareness would go a long way and stop you from buying clothes which would be out of trend after a season and end up in the trash. Also, donate your old clothes instead of throwing them. Recycling is a great alternative for us all.

We, the Millennials & Gen Z generation need to ask more questions, demand transparency & sustainability along with ensuring accountability. Mili has given some great insights & purpose for us to pursue sustainable fashion. So, make a conscious decision for your next purchase.

That was a hell of a conversation with one & only Mili Nair. Thank you so much.

Hope you all enjoy reading this & get some ideas about what to buy next to have a sustainable lifestyle.

Thank you for reading. Stay Safe, Stay Stylish & Make Sustainable Fashion choices!