What is sustainable fashion and why should you make the switch?

Sustainable fashion isn’t another passing trend. It’s a fashion revolution that’s here to stay.

It involves designing and producing fashion products like garments, accessories and bags with minimal environmental impact. It puts the planet first and encourages fashion brands and consumers to make conscious and ethical choices.

With the rising carbon footprint of fashion, sustainable fashion offers a hopeful greener future where fashion is a force for good. In this blog, we explore the common principles and trends of sustainable fashion and how we are redefining sustainability at Jiwya by nurturing the earth and creating products for the eco-conscious consumers.

Fabric cuttings at Jiwya’s production, ready to be segregated for upcycled

Reduced waste

With a truckload of clothes being dumped into landfills every second, the fast fashion industry is known for its throwaway culture and wastage. Sustainable fashion tackles this challenge by advocating mindful consumption. At Jiwya, we follow a zero-waste production system where every scrap is upcycled into embellishments. As a slow fashion sustainable fashion brand, we value quality over quantity and do not launch the latest collections every passing month. Instead, we encourage buying fewer pieces that last longer and resonate with your style, reusing and revamping them, thereby reducing the volume of discarded clothing in landfills.

A sneak peak at one of Jiwya’s plant-based fabrics

Planet-friendly fashion

Sustainable clothing advocates replacing synthetic and animal derived fabrics with natural, eco-friendly options. Over five billion animals are hurt every year in the name of fashion. At Jiwya, we use regenerative and indigenous plant-based fibres like dry farm cotton, jute, hemp and linen. We colour our clothes with natural plant dyes. We make creative fixtures and embellishments from plant-based fabrics and use unbleached cotton labels, biodegradable inks and follow plant-based packaging. 

We aim to contribute to a greener future with a planet-friendly soil-to-soil ecosystem that reduces carbon emissions, water consumption and pollution at every stage of our process and garment making. Since our launch, Jiwya has abated 600 kgs of CO2, prevented 150 kgs of plastic and saved 2,400 kWh of electricity and 5,13,500 litres of water. This approach of decarbonising an entire supply chain of fashion helps preserve the limited natural resources and redefines sustainability in fashion.

One of Jiwya’s hand-weaving artisan at work

Ethical and fair wage clothing

Providing fair wages for workers and eliminating the current scenario of labour exploitation is one of the key principles of ethical fashion. At Jiwya we make our raw materials with 150+ indigenous and grassroots textile artisans spread across India. We work with them directly and value every hand involved in the process, with a dignified living wage. With a hyper-local supply chain, we ensure minimum environmental impact. By choosing ethical and fair-wage clothing from sustainable brands like Jiwya, you support humane practices and help create a more compassionate fashion industry.

Snippet of Irina Handmade Jacket by Jiwya

Good for your skin and your wallet

Sustainable fashion calls for materials that are high-quality materials, safer on your skin and free from harmful chemicals. The softness of every Jiwya piece comes from soothing plant fibres, not polyester which causes skin irritation and allergies. The soothing touch of Jiwya fabrics counter any chemical smoothness of leather tannins or synthetic fossil fuel chemicals. Beyond comfort, investing in truly sustainable fashion is a smart financial choice that eliminates the need for frequent replacements and saves money in the long run. With durable and handmade work, every Jiwya piece is designed to last a lifetime and reduces the cost per wear significantly. But, if you decide to part ways, it holds the humility to be one with soil. We take responsibility for all our products with our Re:Jiwya initiative where you get a lifetime subscription to Repair, Revamp or Reintroduction with your purchase.

The Dilruba Chikankari Dress Handmade by Jiwya

Fashion that speaks your values

What you wear is one of the strongest forms of self-expression and is an extension of who you are. Choosing sustainable clothing reflects your commitment to the planet and respect for the people who crafted it. Every Jiwya piece is designed keeping the wearer in mind and infused with at least two generational heritage Indian textile arts. We make it ethically with artisans spread across India. Each piece in our collection is either a singular or limited edition one making you the only one or one of the very few people in the world to own it.

Wearing a piece of Jiwya means showing the world you support ethical practices and value uniqueness. It’s more than just clothing. It’s about wearing your values, beliefs and personality with pride.

The Tok Handmade Tapestry by Jiwya

Step forward: Fashionably and Sustainably

Does the idea of sustainable fashion excite you but you’re clueless about where to start? You don’t have to revamp your entire wardrobe today. Begin with tiny yet impactful steps like:

• Buy only what you truly need

• Care for the clothes you already own

• Proudly repeat your outfits

• Shop from ethical and sustainable fashion brands that speak your values

• Look for certifications like Leaping Bunny, GOTS or PETA

• Stay vigilant about greenwashing

The widely celebrated brands today tend to heavily market minor initiatives like “eco-friendly packaging” and claim the tag of sustainability. We encourage you to research before you shop and trace the real footprint of every garment you purchase.

At Jiwya, we are redefining sustainable fashion by embracing holistic sustainability at every step of our production-material, colours, embellishments, packaging, production and distribution. Jiwya stands for caring for people, animals, and the planet all together, right from our name! Every piece of our clothing comes from and returns to the soil without harming the planet throughout its lifecycle. We’ve set the bar of sustainable fashion high with purely plant-based artisanal luxury. Explore this new side of fashion at jiwya.com.