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Each Natural Dye has a story. Natural colors are free of chemicals and toxins, they are made with consideration to the planet and are better for the well-being of the wearer. Extracting the colors from natural materials like flowers, herbs, roots, plants residues, etc,  is often an exciting process. The colors change shades, express multitudes within themselves as they are put through many different processes, like grounding, heating, boiling with Iron rust water, and more.

Handmade clothing out of soft organic material that is naturally dyed with plant-based colors is better for the environment and better for you. Explore a range of styles, designs, and patterns, in many natural colors like:

1. Red of the Manjishta (Madder root) Tunics and Kurta are dyed using colors made from ayurvedic herbs that have proven health benefits. Hand-dyed at home using natural dyes like Madder root, pomegranate rind. Sappanwood bark pink, Green indigo, and Indigo apart from Black from fermented iron rust water.

2. Peach from Plants /flower waste - Residual coconut and tree bark

Skirts that are shibori dyed using these residual natural materials brings distinct color variations to each piece. Free of chemicals, non-toxic and biodegradable shades of the earth.

3. Natural Navy from Myrobalan (Harda) An interesting natural color that contains multitudes within itself. Groundnuts of the Terminalia chebula tree, make this dye that at first gives a warm butter yellow color, but you keep heating it with iron and it deepens to lichen grey.

4. Green Tints of the Leaves Herbal leaves are used to add pattern and color to the soft cream organic fabric dresses. An entire garden of goodness with leaves from medicinal herbal plants.

Amidst all the sustaina-babble, terms like ethical clothing are thrown around for attention. The world is slowly realizing the need and beauty of long-lasting handmade clothing, made in harmony with nature, not at the expense of it. Though what does it mean? What kind of clothing is truly ethical and why does it even matter? The fast-evolving scope of ethical clothing includes clothing that aims to reduce the negative impact on people, animals, and the planet. It is made with a vast array of considerations, as we learn on this journey, ethical makers strive to pay close attention to all. 

Ethical Raw Materials: Careful consideration of materials used to make clothing.  From Hemp Fiber to Kala cotton, the sustainability journey has got many designers to explore the possibilities of alternative fabrics which are produced using lesser natural resources in a way that is kinder to the planet. Natural Fibers for one, are plant-based materials used to replace chemically produced yarn, Kala cotton as compared to traditional cotton uses minimal water in production and grows in drought-prone areas, Eri silk or Ahimsa silk is made without the gruesome killing of silkworms. The list is expanding fast as social innovators and designers collaboratively keep the health of local ecosystems at the heart of their creations.

Ethical Designs: Intricate novelty designs handmade by skilled artisans, who’ve been carrying the crafts on for generations. For instance, Embroidery and Block printing done by hand on organic raw materials produces one-of-a-kind results that cannot be bulk produced or replicated as machine-made goods are. Zero waste designs rooted in the ethos of making the most of what would otherwise be waste in a landfill result in novel distinct pieces that are kinder to the planet. With attention to detail, they result in long-lasting durable clothing for everyone, which outlives trends. Thereby driving a shift towards mindful consumption bit by bit. 

Ethical Processes & Supply Chains Garment manufacturing is known to be one of the most destructive production processes. Ethical supply chains differ from fast-fashion models as their main focus above all else,  is to ensure that the production process is environmentally friendly as well as fair to those involved in it. They adhere to strict regulations to make sure that there is no exploitation or abuse involved in the production process, as well as comply with guardrails for environmental impact. Going a step further within the scope of ethical supply chains are also those models wherein the business model is designed keeping the entire community at its core, to ensure a thriving ecosystem of sustainable livelihoods.

Ethical Wages Just 2% of fast fashion retail price ends up actually reaching the workers in sweatshops who are pushed to produce them. Many traditional crafts and artisanal skills die out as artisans find themselves in need of consistent work and livelihood. This need pushes them to switch to taking up jobs as construction workers abandoning their heritage skills. With no one left to practice it, in a few years, centuries of art come to a halting stop. Ethically produced clothing ensures better humane working conditions as well as fair wages for the creators. With access to consistent livelihoods, it creates an opportunity for them to take their craft further in eco-friendly ways. 

Being ethical and environmentally friendly or sustainable is a long constantly evolving process, it requires collaborative action and mindful choices. It all starts with one choice, yours.

Bring eco-friendly magic to the toys that your children play with. Children are constantly creating their version of the world throughout their childhood, finding tactile mediums for them to express themselves complements their development greatly. Learning through sensory experiential activities has increasingly been seen as effective for the growth of children. Toys form a crucial component of developmental sensory experiences. Children respond better to tactile cues, thus through toys they can form early beliefs about the world around them.  What this toy should be and should be made out of, it's up to you. Choose mindfully.

Handmade toys designed for children for different age groups have numerous benefits for them, for the planet and for the people who made them. 

Innovative designs for skill development A toy made by hand is designed in ways to help children develop a range of skills including motor skills as well as cognitive ones. The innovative designs are crafted keeping in mind the effect they would have on a child.

Reconnect with craft: Art & craft kits aim to reconnect children with traditional art forms as well, thereby creating awareness and expanding markets for artisan communities that depend on their art for their livelihood while helping sustain the old art forms they practice.

Raw materials made from good

As compared to toys made out of plastic/synthetic materials, toys made with upcycled or easily available natural raw materials are good for the children as they do not have any harmful effects on them. From hand knitted wool stuff toys to interestingly designed DIY kits or toys made out of lac, find out what the ingredients are before you make the choice. 

Cooperative play is a useful tool in creating an opportunity for children to learn various life skills through play. It enhances creative thinking and social skills amongst many others. Through experience, children learn lessons that are long-lasting in shaping their personalities. Cooperative play engages children in activities with a shared purpose/common goal with others. It enhances communication and collaborative problem-solving in them. 

Indoor Cooperative play also strengthens their ability to engage with complex materials while managing group dynamics. To start with, simply doing activities with parents or other primary caregivers can also be extremely beneficial. This also deepens the initial attachment bonds that a child forms with others around them.

Children are constantly creating their version of the world throughout their childhood, finding tactile mediums for them to express themselves complements their development greatly. Learning through sensory experiential activities has increasingly been seen as effective for the growth of children. 

Engage your children in a variety of do-it-yourself activities that help them interact with the world around them constructively. Some interesting options include educational games made using environment-friendly raw materials. From block printing innovative designs to using naturally made bricks to construct their own buildings, to DIY traditional paintings there are numerous mindful producer groups putting together craft kits with a purpose, designed especially for children. Art & craft kits aim to reconnect children with traditional art forms as well, thereby creating awareness and expanding markets for artisan communities that depend on their art for their livelihood while helping sustain the old art forms they practice. Their work inspires the young generation to forge a commitment to preserve local and national heritage and to play a role in reviving the rich heritage traditions and encouraging creativity.

With wasteful mindless production of decor items that last only a season or a short while, the landfills become bigger and our homes get more cluttered. A cluttered home full of items that were made out of artificial raw materials has also been found to increase stress as it is not very conducive to a relaxing environment.

An eco-friendly makeover of your own living space is not only good for you, your family,  and your mental health but it is also great for the planet.

Being mindful of the choices we make in these times of hyper-consumption, can also increase our awareness of the impact that our space has on us. These mindful choices and living in harmony with nature have numerous health benefits- physical and psychological. The everyday exposure to toxic chemicals for one is reduced greatly if one is mindful about what they choose to bring into their homes. A lot of chemicals(Volatile organic compounds) that are used to make interior furnishings and building materials are airborne can negatively impact health and air quality. Beyond the impact of an eco-friendly home on you and the planet, sustainable home choices also empower producers and small businesses that put in the time, effort, and resources into creating these options for you, thereby strengthening their ability to practice their craft.  

Here are some ideas on how you can make your home more sustainable:

Furniture Furnishings made from eco-friendly materials like bamboo, rattan and wicker, lumber, rubberwood, lantana, and reclaimed wood, among others help reduce deforestation and also reduce the emission of chemicals in your home. Switching to Bamboo (a tall grass) swings, reclining chairs, coffee tables, bookcases, baskets, etc, is an ideal alternative to wood as it is one of the fastest-growing plants. One can also get furniture carved out of stone depending on how the space has to be designed.

Fabrics With numerous eco-friendly low impact options available now, you can also make a mindful choice about the fabrics that make up your drapes, runners, bedsheets, and mats. Handwoven organic fabrics are good for you as well as the planet.

Durable and Timeless Decor Choose the design, style, colors, raw materials of the decor you want for your house. A mindful choice about decor can be made by paying close attention to details about the products, how they are made, what the raw materials are, one can also choose items based on whether they can be reused/recycled, to evolve and grow with you. Vintage decor is another eco-friendly option, to choose from decor items that already exist and tell a story. Another category worth exploring is decor items that have been made out of repurposed raw materials giving them a new life and your home, a crafty edge.

Houseplants Refresh the air around you organically and bring some green, which has been proven to improve eyesight and is a source of relaxation for the eyes. Be mindful about the choice of the planter, and what it is made out of as well. Handmade ceramic planters or planters made out of upcycled materials can be a long-lasting eco-friendly choice.

Letting go of fast fashion is not a process that can happen in isolation from the adoption of numerous other practices that help you be more mindful of how you consume things. A switch to products and apparel made from eco-friendly materials is only the beginning of a long journey of conscious living. Re-using and re-styling apparel to bring freshness to your wardrobe is an equally important aspect of ensuring that you don’t fall into the trap of “what’s trending”. It is this mindless chase of trends that allows fast fashion to thrive. However, if we take a step back and adopt practices that make our clothing last, in new and interesting ways, buying new things becomes a more mindful careful activity that you only do when absolutely necessary, ultimately reducing your individual carbon footprint.

Here are some eco-friendly tips that can help you preserve the clothing you already have, to ensure that very little of what you buy ends up in a landfill:

Careful about where and how you keep your clothes Stains can be the end of a garment. There are stain-removal tips easily available online, ensure that any stains on your clothes are removed before storing them. When it comes to seasonal garments, how you store them has a significant impact on how long they last. Spending a little time choosing where and how you want to store them makes a huge difference. For instance, Cedar lining or lids prove to be useful in preserving winter clothing.

Machine vs handwashing

Washing machines treat all clothes the same way. There are not enough settings to be able to ensure appropriate care that individual items need. Handwashing using minimal cold water and air drying can retain a certain freshness in all your clothes. Further to that, being mindful of the kind of material that clothing is made out of, can help preserve their texture. For instance, 100% wool and cashmere need to be gently hand-washed in a tub with a couple of caps of mild, non-conditioning shampoo. Rinse in cold water and gently place on a towel. Then roll up the towel and gently squeeze the water from the garment. Lay flat to dry.

Re-style: Alterations and Tailoring

Clothing and textiles production releases 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year –     that's more than the combined emissions for all international flights and shipping. How many of your clothes end up in a landfill is a choice you can make. There are numerous exciting ways to repurpose old clothes to fit them into new styles and sizes. From natural DIY dyeing kits to tailoring, your old clothes can be your own canvas of self-expression.