Sustainably Stylish: Eco-Conscious Elegance

It has been welcoming to see more and more celebrities vocally talk about slow fashion and champion it through their wardrobe choices. Here are a few Indian celebrities who are slow fashion icons. They are proof that sustainable fashion can be fun and stylish. Despite the constant glare of social media, some of these celebrities proudly repeat their outfiits

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt is often seen repeating outfits; she went viral when she repeated her wedding saree for the national award ceremony. She once responded to someone who asked her if she loves repeating clothes by saying, “Yes, I repeat clothes all the time, I repeat all my accessories too. No one can keep 365 clothes for each day of the year, we should all repeat clothes, and repeating clothes is normal. We need to be mindful about our wardrobe choices because overconsumption of clothes is not good for the environment.” What truly makes Alia an icon of slow fashion is how proudly she repeats clothes she has worn on popular occasions like her wedding, mehndi function, etc. Alia is also the founder of an eco-friendly kidswear brand, and she also recently invested in a web series on Netflix, which highlights the environmental and social impact of poaching. The mother in her is also extremely vocal about the need to protect the environment for future generations.

Kangana Ranaut

Kangana’s fashion choices have evolved over the years and what one observes over the last few years is her consistent love for handlooms. She is often seen wearing cotton handloom sarees. Empowering weaving communities across the country remains a key factor in sustainable fashion goals as far as India is concerned. India is a country with so many different styles of weaving patterns and we definitely need more celebrities and designers championing handlooms. Kangana Ranaut always adds an element of extra elegance to the most basic handwoven cotton saree. She frequently wears outfits from local artisans and indigenous weaving communities, making her style statement bold and sustainable!

Taapsee Pannu

Much like Kangana, Taapsee Pannu is another celebrity who champions local small brands and handloom sarees. She drapes the saree in so many different ways an makes the entire look so effortlessly stylish. She frequently supports designers who promote ethical fashion and she is also known for repeating her outfits. At the Filmfare OTT Awards, she wore a dress crafted from repurposed Banarasi fabric, blending traditional textiles with contemporary design. For the Telugu film Mishan Impossible, Pannu got outfits made from recycled materials; she collaborated with stylist Indrakshi Pattanaik to emphasize eco-friendly fashion on screen.

Dia Mirza

One look at her Instagram profile will show you that she is a strong advocate for sustainability and most of her fashion choices also reflect that. Her wardrobe showcase style and timelessness over fleeting trends. From wearing couture gowns crafted from recycled materials and supporting rural artisans and weaving communities, she showcased her love for sustainable fashion through her lifestyle choices. She has blended style with sustainability so effortlessly over the last few years. She has been spotted i sustainable couture at various red-carpet events showing the world that when we add the element of sustainability to styling, it makes the outfit look extra special

Katrina Kaif

In an interview with Vogue last January, Katrina Kaif spoke about her sustainable wardrobe choices. She mentioned her love for vintage fashion and repeating clothes. She said that the mindset of repeating clothes is not cool because the outfit that has already been photographed or seen in public has got to change. She also mentioned the negative impact of fast fashion and said that she is very mindful of her wardrobe choices. When she became aware of climate change and its impact on the entertainment industry, she has been making conscious fashion choices. She also collaborated with a circular fashion online platform called Saritoria to recycle her own wardrobe; she is constantly striving to make her wardrobe more sustainable.

I must add that some of these celebrities still wear mainstream brands and are also seen in new fast-fashion clothes, so they may not be perfect slow-fashion icons. However, one must appreciate their efforts to consistently share the message of slow fashion in an industry known for overconsumption of fast fashion and waste.

Aparna Sharma is a non-conformist who believes that fashion must become a force for good and style must meet sustainability. She breaks down the nuances of slow fashion and how we can stay stylish without being trendy.