We could talk about how fast fashion has impacted the textile industry in a cultural and environmental way, but if you are an informed individual, you already know all about that. We want to discuss how it has impacted fashion itself. Not just the quality, but styles and fashion have been deeply impacted because of this shift. Fast fashion has been the direct cause of the loss of many rare designs and patterns because the world is largely accepting the easier alternative. If you look back at the evolution of woollen textiles through the years, you will notice how in the past woollen garments had much more complex knits and patterns. As the years have passed, woollen clothes have become simpler. Lacking nuance and detail.
It's because a machine cannot make the complicated designs that a human can.
In Bengal, although the hills have successfully protected this artform and shielded it from dying out because of the fast-changing waves of capitalism and consumerism, it is still largely at risk.
Fast fashion refers to the process of producing clothes with the help of machines. It has taken over the world because it is a faster and cheaper alternative. While we do not admonish this trend as it does lead to more affordable clothing, it is the use of synthetic fibres, low-cost materials, and harmful practices followed by fashion brands that we do not stand behind.
Big companies take advantage of consumer culture to introduce badly stitched clothing to introduce new trends to the market almost every week. This has caused the lives of traditional artists to change drastically.
In Bengal, there are still a few places where traditional hand knitting techniques are used to create beautiful shawls, sweaters, scarves, and many other woollen garments. Unlike products made by a machine, a hand-knit woollen textile is often more durable and naturally sourced. So you know at face value what you are getting.
The culture of buying and collecting items of clothing is quite alarming. We are currently living in an age where it is normal to have a wardrobe filled and overflowing with poorly made garments, just to be able to match the changing trends of the fashion world.
This growing load of material waste that we are creating has major environmental implications. Machine-made woollen textiles are usually made from synthetic fibres like polyester, acrylic, or blends, and since these materials are petroleum-based and take years to decompose, the theory is that they are causing much more harm than plastic.
There are many local organisations and cooperatives that have been cropping up all over Bengal that support and promote the work of artisans to ensure that their handwork does not go to waste. These organisations provide them with a platform to showcase their craft and sell them nationally and internationally.
The significance of slow fashion—an alternative to rapid fashion that prioritises quality, workmanship, and sustainability—is emphasised by these efforts.
The Indian government has also put in place a number of initiatives to support handlooms and traditional textiles, particularly wool-based ones.
Our team, hard at work at The Bengal Store, has only one aim. That is to find unique crafts from all over Bengal and ensure that they survive. And it is only possible because of you, our lovely customers, who see value in the art that is so lovingly created by hands that do not want to be forgotten by the cruel vagaries of time.
It's critical for customers to understand the worth of handcrafted woollen textiles and the advantages they provide, both for the environment and the continued practice of traditional crafts. We can help Bengali artists preserve their craft for future generations by choosing handmade, ecological clothing over mass-produced alternatives.
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