Words like ‘ethically sourced’ and ‘sustainability’ are used as labels quite often today. However, for an average consumer, it is far from easy to figure out which of the labels are offering transparency and which are indulging in tokenism.
Esha Lal, being a conscious designer, has taken one simple step to seed sustainability into the swimwear segment. As a category, swimwear that was once overlooked is now more environmentally friendly. A botanical illustrator and a lover of tropical destinations, Lal realised that India lacked good swimwear and found potential offering a variety of floral and fauna prints at affordable price points.
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Swimsuits traditionally were made out of fabrics with high plastic content such as nylon and polyester, the use of which is against the laws of the ocean. Presently, the degree to which plastic is consumed is predicted to outbalance marine life by the year 2050. Due to this, Esha Lal is practising mindful souring and her fabrics are from Carvico, an Italian company that has an all-round approach towards sustainable fashion. The fabrics are easy at drying, soft and durable.
For Lal, this is only the beginning of catering responsible fashion and there is still room for improvement. She is also keen to balance the value with pricing and make her swimwear more affordable to women across India.
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The designer who launched her eponymous eco-friendly label just a year ago is now making her garment tags from plantable seed paper, extending her green thumb to the fashion industry. Made with cotton scraps and being wood-free, the tags are 100% biodegradable. Last month, Lal read an article on how Roni Helou, an Arab Designer was making seed tags and she decided to introduce this in India. A company that goes by the name ‘Plantables’ was offering seed paper wedding cards and Esha Lal had them produce detachable tags that are embedded with basil seeds. “All you need to do is add water, put the seeds in the soil, place the pot in the sunshine and then watch them grow.” She says explaining the magic.
Furthermore, Lal is adamant to look into inclusivity as a concept and expand her size range.
