Redefining Ethical with Sikhat

Who knew ethical fashion could look this good, honestly I’m all for sustainable fashion where they actually just don’t plaster “cotton & handcrafted” and sell it as ethical. Even though I am a pretty seldom user to ethical fashion I have worked as an industry long to know my fair trade fabrics -procurement/growth & the final translation into garment. An anti-fit garment doesn’t justify it being the new indie sustainable brand.  With a sudden surge of available brands it often becomes quite the task to know your ethnical fabric and eventually garments. Surveys repeatedly show that there has been-and indeed continues to be tremendous confusion over the sustainability impacts of cultivating and extracting textile materials. Synthetic fibre is seen as “bad” and natural fibres as “good”. This preconception is influenced by a complex set of factors influenced by a complex set of factors including raw material renewability, biodegradability and stereotyped associations made with chemicals, factories and pollution.

Certainly there is no dispute to the fact that producing synthetic fabrics impacts on people & environment, natural fibre cultivation can also cause a substantial amount of negative impact.

 Let’s clear the air with my understanding and in simpler words - When I say "sustainable" and "ethical", I am referring to fabrics that were produced in a manner that was respectful of people and planet as verified by internationally recognized certification, such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). ^1* So it’s quite important that we understand that essentially that when brands say they use only cottons they aren’t being ethical or conscious. We need to understand the source of it- we often think of cotton when talking "sustainable" and "ethical" fabrics, but other examples are bamboo (although, it turns out bamboo fabric is sadly not so sustainable after all) and hemp, as these come from plants that require little water or pesticides and regenerate easily. 

A revolution is  underway in today’s organizations, labels and even designer labels. Today I’m introducing a quaint homegrown talent for their label Sikhat.

I don’t think modest fashion comes to me very easily now. Growing up I always have had flabs but I was never refused or asked to stick to one kind of clothing- which basically incase of us fatties( as known forever) is Kurta and  uglier reformations of tunics. I’ m done away with modesty having said that I’mreally comfortable wearing everything and anything as long as it fits in my vision and also through the fact as too how many ways I could possibly style it?

 So when I was approached by @labelsikhat I honestly was a little too apprehensive. Now don’t get me wrong I love people who can really have the sense of style which I want to channel but fail to.

Probably also because I’ve grown extremely comfortable in my skin. As people talk about influencer and I had quite intriguing revelations yesterday on my live session I really do wonder what kind of influence am I? 

More than letting you know what to wear and what not to I really just want you to know it’s your body and your opinion so please whatever you like. I do not by any means want to promote the fact that one needs to wear makeup, don wigs or wear extremely skimpy clothes all the time. I try and strive to wear and try everything-there is no do’s and don’ts I would want you to follow. It really is my fashion diary that I like to share with you guys. Coming back to #labelsikhat it’s not some brand that approached and we got to barter n just do the shoot going. It’s really the team that put heart into hearing me out and making me that perfect dress. The underlying boho lineage and the comfort just tops everything besides the price point.

I picked up two outfits from the label-a dress and a tunic. I styled them in quite different ways visibly. The length of the tunic was comfortable to be worn over a pair of distressed shorts and cinched in with my conch shell belt and pair of beaded flats. So my inspiration was taking boho-an eclectic intergalactic boho really and added such accessories and makeup to complete the look. I have used flash tattoos or my eye makeup too and really played around with summer colours for my look.

For my second look I really like it more toned down since the outfit in itself speaks so much – the tulip sleev details and the ruffles on the dress. What I really loved about the dress is that it looks like a cord set. But just one garment that you can take from desk to dinner.

The label is run by two lovely sisters who really put their heart and head into making ethical garment and we can only do so much as help them out by support them. What’s even makes it a sweeter deal is that they have a zero waste policy –they recycle every bit .They even send me a sweet little fanny pack that I shall be using for my travel super soon.

Another adventure coming real soon ,hope you like the post and let me know what do you think honestly?

See you soon my peaches

XoXo

🍑

That Lux Leathercraft: Töhl

The handbag is our all sorts of essential. For me, it seems I do carry my whole world around-I’m the over packer. I may absolutely need the substantials of what I could probably fit into a clutch but oh well what if? – What is there is a rain deluge? What if I need a quick makeup fic? Or worse what if I need to shave my legs or brushy teeth! Yes, I carry pretty much everything around with me; My colleagues at work literally know I live out of the bag with an extra change in the lockers at the workspace. As much as spontaneous I am with my plan I absolutely believe in over planning.

That demand for constant content, though, means me trying to get multiple partnerships, which is why I need to probably tie up for more brands. But I’m someone who really hasn’t had more exposure any sort of luxuries really – and not to bluff about it. I had rather make and try everything as I work upon myself.

In the handbag department of my closet I have been pretty lucky really ‘cos my dad traveled around the world and while I did not have much exposure to luxury brands I did know more high street brands before most of my peers. I remember hugging on to my precious Cath Kidston backpack in high school!

So when I was gifted the Chiswell bag from Tohl it really was love at first sight. Now I always kinda shopped around at the airports lurking for the sale and bought leather handbags from Aldo, Accessorize and Charles & Keith! Not the greatest quality but certainly that edge in design and functionality that I liked. I’m the kind of person who would build their outfit around one piece whether be it a bag, a blouse or a footwear really!

It just really starts building this capsule wardrobe in my head automatically so if that’s not happening I most likely will not buy the item.

Coming back to the bag it is definitely become my everyday bag for well just about everywhere. I took it to my work and then it found it’s way to  Delhi,Bali, and Goa –I think the Chiswell’s quite the traveler! And this is all in a months time. I will confess not the best place to travel with pure leather but I was too tempted not to!

Today I’m sharing two looks with you-let me know which one do you like better? I may go on and share my workwear looks too later on but I really just spearheaded into styling the bag into a tropical vibe which is not something leather handcrafted bags aspire to be. I think they need to live a little and obviously, I have to show them some major TLC but I’m all for it!

I hope you enjoyed my looks put together and try some for yourself albeit not forgetting the bag! These babies are handcrafted with utmost care.You know what I love about the brand most is it’s relativity to our Indian sensibility and usage. It combines aesthetic and functionality under the crown name of Tohl meaning “skin”.

I will see you soon in my next post which I’m most likely drafting as you read.See you on the other side, my beautiful ladies.

XOXO

That Summer Air featuring Afamado

Hello my queens,

I have written numerous post about custom-made clothing from Afamado and it is no secret the custom fit clothing can play a miraculous role when it comes to different body types. What brands often have failed to understand that even plus size bodies aren't all hourglass proportionately same. Even in outsize's there are several different body types-not all of us have the ample bosom the voluptuous ass and a tiny waist to match with. Afamado bridges that gap and creates clothing to suit your boldly and not the other way around. Elaborating on to my outfit here I am quite the collector when it comes to wrap dress and I actually favour them 'cos they always wind up above my muffin tops and help me create the perfect illusion. Most brands/labels are using some form of vanity sizing by now, and they are reluctant to unwilling to abandon this strategy which has helped swell the customer self-esteem ( of course keeping in mind it's short-term, for as long as they use the same vanity sizing for all their collection). The problem with vanity sizing is that it leads to false sense of self-esteem as all the bands would not follow the same. This could do much more harm to consumers mind frame than to boost the sales. Which brings me to the dire need of standardization when conflicted with that of bespoke clothing. Bespoke. Which most of us can’t afford, money-wise or time-wise.  Also, If everything was made bespoke and all components manufactured by different individuals then it would likely be uncommon for things to fit well. With all the ranges and variations of our bodies, a good fit is found in clothing that shall be solely manufactured for you, from your unique measurements. And this requires a different manufacturing model; one where profitability doesn’t require multi-thousand item runs of a single size.

It means “fit” is measured not as cookie cutter parameter sizes, however, defined and redefined or standardized, but rather in the way you gauge it: as fitting you. This is what they do at Afamado and understand you, to make it to your fit.

 I got two dresses from Afamado's SS"18 collection -the first dress is a zig-zag printed wrap dress and other an unstitched wrap dress in the most marvelous print. I chose them as per a day and a night outfit that screams summer. You can also avail a special discount of 15 % sitewide when you shop above 2000 INR.

Now talking about the SO-WHAT campaign I had also like to share a video with you. My styling for the outfits was really just about focusing on my outfits really! The earrings are from H & M and heels are Dorothy Perkin. I had really like you to share your So-what story with me and get featured on the blog next.

Valentine- A rendezvous with Self

Are you wondering what is my blospost's title too?

Being a propagator of self-love it would only seem wrong to me to wait for someone to come along to make myself loved again. Self Love today is propagated as one of the best selling product lines to anything and everything. What we fail to understand that it really extends to more than just the physical aspect of it. Yes, it the most textural and identifiable shade of our identity that makes our first impression. But there's always going to be more to it than the physical aspect.

I partnered up with Afamado for a special valentine's day look. And no I'm not going on a date but treat myself to a staycation (almost a hideout)

Now if you have that special someone I'm all for decking up for the date and head out of the city, whatever you may choose to do I have styled an option for you.The salmon blush dress is your go-to guide to the season's valentines color.The wrap dress clings perfectly to your body, and the flare sleeves only add to the drama.Flash a hint of cleavage with the beautiful neckline. You always need to drop a hint for that pendant he's been promising you.

I wore mine with Stardust earrings  and bar ring by Designer  "Thezie Savino"

along with heels from Intoto.I love how I can wear this comfortable look from day to night. What is your valentine day's plan,, let me know?

Victorian Candyfloss featuring StalkBuyLove

There have been so many inspirations throughout history that I strive to try on my blog. Yes, I 'm much rooted in the history of fashion like that but unable to translate the entire look.

Also one of the reasons I don't do it is not to make it look entirely costum-ey! Is that even a word?

Here's my mood board for this post,I always make one before I write my posts -hence decided must post it too!

My love for history has actually enabled me enough to be a lecturer at a design school in Mumbai- this gives me unprecedented access to lots of books. So while I was teaching my classes about Queen Elizabeth I swelled deep into not books but documentaries/ movies. We see the influence time to time in different variations but what if I had to make it my own, how would I do it. I wondered.

Story's second part goes on to how much I surf online shopping websites before doing anything else on the web is not even a joke. To get me in my zone I need to know what's happening with the e-com retailers. So I stumbled upon a pink shirt dress with beautiful collar. Now okay, I have very little or no neck(m no hate there) but I wondered if I could carry the dress. What the heck, I ordered it anyway-the things pink can make you feel. Cut to Goa and on last Day I knew how perfectly my Intoto heels matched my dress and my clutch from Kunst. I had to do something about it.

And could I have found a better location with a better name---PINK CHILLI

We started to shoot the look and Sanky did the most wonderful tight curls-Well I do look like somebody caught up between the kitsch time machine of today and Victorian era really. This looks however put together may not be what I imagined it to be but this is why I started the blog really. To feel unsettled, to take more fashion risks and not know what result I had wished upon.

My eye makeup is really a simple winged liner and pink lipstick to complete the overdose. You can get this dress from StalkBuyLove, heels(absolute love) from Intoto and beautiful sequinned clutch from Kunst by Diksha.

The Adorned One by Nubella

Bright and inventive colour combinations are important this season, while the influence of street style impacts silhouette and style.A romantic mood is created via sweet vintage florals such as the classic rose while frills continue to bring a feminine dimension to the season,as states the WGSN too.

In the words of top and everybody's favourite model Ashley Graham "It's not just about size anymore, It's about inclusivity "Luckily we have some wonderful brands catering to our sensibility in India now. One of my definitive favourite and what I personally like to shop from .
The outfit I wear is something that I would wear to work sans the high block heels, I would swipe them for matallic loafers.The jacket is by Nubella isa limited edition baby-it has a detailed floral motif handpainted to each jacket that definitely makes it one of it's kind.

The outfit it so complete yet has this subdued elegance with a hint of sexiness. As a plus size girl cleavage is that unwarranted aunty that decide to pay you a visit of course almost leaving you red faced in public sometimes. this jacket not only comes to you rescue but also does much making a statement. I loved the sleeves and the neckline as it doesn't accentuate to give a droopy look and the sleeves being flared, are extremely c beautiful. Th e jacket is made in poplin is perfect for not only in betweens but also as a good piece of layering.

 

I'm wearing the KELSIE HAND PAINT POPLIN JACKET you can find it here