Plant-Based Fashion by Jiwya: What is it and how it began?

We all talk about how a town used to have a weather pattern that has now gone bad. What if I tell you a significant percentage of this change is from our clothing choices?  Sounds almost stupid, right? It is true.

The textile and fashion industry is the third largest global polluter and contributes significantly to climate change and introducing toxic chemicals and microplastics in our water streams. Does it have to be like this? No.

That is why Jiwya exists. To right what is wrong and create an example that the clothes we wear don’t have to be a source of pollution. To fill the gap in sustainable fashion and create beautiful and conscious fashion.

As two textile scientists, Adhiraj and I have been on the inside long enough to know what is wrong. We have tried to correct it, until we felt that was not enough. Thus began the journey of Jiwya through continents and countries, towns and villages, and thorough solid research. The solution was all around us- the safest clothing for our bodies and planet is the one that will come 100% from plants.

Jeev: जीव (gʒiv; roots in Sanskrit, also finds its use in Malay, Balinese, Indonesian, and many other southeast Asian languages). In all of these languages, the meaning is one:

प्राण, जान, जीवन : Life, Soul, Spirit. 

Jiwya, the brand is rooted in Jeev, to denote our respect for every life on this planet, people, animals, and the earth itself through every practice in our business. It is inspired by roots and nurtured by the earth. Just like every soul on this earth, every piece we make comes from soil, plants, and the deep care for life.

Jiwya creates handmade apparel, textiles and fashion that is 100% from plants – the fibres, colours, stitches, buttons, and the end packaging. The softness of our pieces come from soothing plant fibres and not plastic polyester. The colours have the earthiness of the soil and not toxic dyes and chemicals from fossil fuels. The flare in our slow fashion clothing is embellished with our zero-waste production and not microplastic glitter and beads. The form and fit come from our handmade craftsmanship which values every hand that is involved in making our products.

Jiwya is a start to make plant-based fashion and slow fashion the way we consume fashion. To be mindful of who and what makes our clothes. To pick fashion that doesn’t harm our bodies, we could each pick designs that flatter the fit and comfort with plant-based compassion.

Follow along our instagram to know our journey or get in touch through our website to know more.