India’s Mission LiFE Takes Centre-Stage At London Fashion Week

London: India’s Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) mission to promote sustainability in all aspects of life took centre-stage for “India Day” at London Fashion Week 2023, with Indian designers showcasing creations using a range of eco-friendly materials. Under the umbrella of “Sustainable Modernity”, students of Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) in partnership with the London School of Trends presented their collections at a colourful catwalk in London on Saturday.

Their creations were made using plant-based fabrics produced in India such as lotus stems, banana leaves, rose petals, cotton, bamboo and other natural fibres. The London School of Trends said in a statement,

The designers were instructed to employ sustainable materials and zero-waste practices to create a collection that was both cutting edge and wearable. They were tasked to show how the artisans and their surroundings are linked and depend on each other. A profound connection to the Earth has played a significant role in the cultural practices of India, which have a long history of being influenced by the natural environment.

The all-female design team was made up of Rajvi and Yatri Patel, Preksha Jain, Somya Goyal, Vidhita Raut, Sidhi Penkar and Roma Agarwal.

Also Read: India Brings ‘Mission LiFE’ To United Nations Through Special Exhibition 

Their unique designs were showcased by models following an earlier interaction at the Indian High Commission in London with High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and Deputy High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh, among other diplomats.

The idea was to highlight how upcycling, material optimisation and waste reduction have been at the forefront of India’s artisan practices for decades.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mission LiFE movement, such practices are being revived and nurtured with an innovative approach by young designers in the country. PM Modi introduced the concept to the world at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021, said,

Mission LiFE can become a mass movement of environmentally-conscious lifestyle. What is needed today is Mindful and Deliberate Utilisation, instead of Mindless and Destructive Consumption.

Also Read: Mission LiFE Campaign Sensitises Masses In Assam’s Guwahati

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.