The initiative of the MKSSS’s School of Fashion Technology (SOFT), Pune that has held in the past conferences, competitions, exhibitions and workshops to sensitize the young fashion fraternity to follow and practice responsible and ethical fashion, presented the 8th Green Fashion India (GFI) Conference 2021 on the sprawling grounds of the SOFT campus.

Held on November 25 and 26, it showcased reports, artisans, discussions, contests, as well as designers with amazing sustainable collections as well as 12 Indian crafts stalls.

Recommended Read: Erica Fernandes satiates our inner patriot and fashionista as she becomes the ONLY INDIAN model to set runway on fire at Dubai Expo Fashion Week!

The panel discussions and contests ensured that the conference theme of ‘Power of Roots’ and ‘Collaborations and Co-creations’ was firmly projected. The theme also encouraged opportunities to Revive, Refresh and Regain, with circular economy, design dimensions, revival of crafts in the forefront. Recycle, upcycle, reuse were the words that encouraged designers to project more slow fashion.

Indian and International fashion stalwarts and experts presented their thoughts and suggestions both on and off line, while parallel sessions like paper presentations, student competitions, artisanal workshops, brain-storming sessions, installations, craft documentary films and the very popular fashion quiz kept the tempo of the two days in top gear.

To encourage the crafts, the twelve artisans who displayed their products were honoured at the event, where 15 institutes from all over India and 510 students attended the two-day event. The highlight of 8th GFI 2021 was the fashion showcase ‘My Own Way’ created by students and alumni of SOFT that featured collections promoting zero waste, upcycling, recycling and use of organic fabrics.

The colourful streetwear line ‘Funk O Clock’ emphasised use of discarded bedsheets and uniforms. ‘Guarded Violence’ highlighted multi-coloured appliqués on used bedsheets, while ‘Kala Sara’ brought into focus Godri craft for boleros, waistcoats and jackets. ‘Lost in Right Angles’ focussed on Daboo work along with pit loom weaving. ‘Ouro-Boros’ created from upcycled school uniforms portrayed the yin-yang for various figures. ‘The Golden Healing’ designed from post-consumer waste incorporated pita work. The alumni of SOFT featured Ninoshka Alvares’s ‘Past Present and Future’ collection that showcased Shibori for ensembles made with zero waste, while Vishwa Shah’s ‘Mhysa’ displayed khadi and handwoven fabrics for men, women and children’s clothing.