Eco-Fashion Highlight of the Month: Swati Argade

by Jocelyn M. Goode

In celebration of Earthday, FAIM Internet Magazine is spotlighting the work of eco-fashion designer Swati Argade. She is just one of many creators who are making conscious choices about the fabrics, processes and ethics surrounding the production of clothing. As more people become aware of the environmental problems we face as inhabitants of planet Earth, eco-fashion or sustainable fashion proves to be another solution. But what is eco-fashion anyway?

According to the website, www.ecofashionworld.com, which provides information about and access to sustainable designers and brands around the world, the criteria is as follows:

	Vegetarian / Animal Free: products that have been made without the use of leather or animal tissue products. Examples are shoes and bags made from “vegetal leather” using Amazonian rubber instead of animal skins or other recycled or man-made materials.
	Ethically Produced: Ethical fashion is fashion that has been produced with respect for people and the environment. Although there are existing certifications for Organic and Fair Trade, we want to encourage companies who are taking significant action but don’t qualify for certification. This might include companies producing locally or on small scales in developed countries, who might not qualify for Fair Trade certification or companies working with farmers to transition to sustainable crops but who might not yet qualify as Organic (which takes a few years). The “Ethic Chic” section of each brand profile should have details on the specific steps of the brand’s ethical production.
	Craft / Artisan: products that have been crafted using artisan skills such as embroidery, which preserve the perpetuation of ancestral traditions.
	Custom or Tailor-made: also called demi-couture or made-to-order. This is a way of encouraging quality and “slow fashion” over mass-produced disposable fashion.
	Fair Trade Certified: an organized movement that promotes standards for international labor (such as reasonable work hours, no child labor, the right to unionize, a fair living wage), environmentalism, and social policy in areas related to production of goods. Fair Trade focuses on exports from developing countries to developed countries. Some Fair Trade certification organizations include: FLO www.fairtrade.net, IFAT www.ifat.org, TransFair (Canada and US) www.transfairusa.org and www.transfair.ca.
	Organic: natural fibers that have been grown without any pesticides and other toxic materials, preserving the health of humans and the environment. The process of organic growth can be certified by various organizations.
	Recycled: anything that has been made from already existing materials, fabrics, metals or fibers. These are often reclaimed from previously made clothing and accessories and reworked into new ones. Fibers can also be re-purposed from pre-existing fabric, re-spun and reused for new garments.
	Vintage/Second-Hand:vintage is a generic term for new or second hand garments created in the period from the 1920’s to 1975. However, the term is often used more generally for second-hand clothes or up-cycled clothes (second-hand clothes that have been given a new life through some sort of customization).

Swati Argade's designs focus on sustaining ancient Indian traditions such as dyeing, weaving and embroidery. She personally selects prints and fabrics from local economies in different parts of India. For Swati, the finished outfit is part of a cycle, connected to all the people and processes that were necessary to create it. She states, "it became very important to me early on that my clothes had to be made with the producers and their history in mind. Their skill and participation are making this endeavor possible. The artisans, weavers and tailors are as much a part of the production chain as I am."

The genre of "eco" tends to conjure up images of bland designs in muted colors or super-conceptual aesthetics that an everyday person would not want to wear. Swati's creations, however, are sophisticated, feminine, modern and rich with color. Her inspirations range from ancient Indian architecture to Neo-Victorian to the starship enterprise. This Spring, Swati will introduce a line of raincoats made from recycled bottles, post-consumer waste and organic cotton. Here are FAIM's favorite looks-

For more on Swati, visit www.swatiargade.com