Will clothes made of garbage be future fashion?

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, February 5, 2007
Think twice before you want to dispose your garbage. You might want to fashion stunning clothes out of them. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) students have done just that. They have exhibited their wares for the competition at Fashion Spectrum 2007, their annual fest.
Students made their creations using blister sheets, ribbon, plastic straw, plates and bowls. “We are trying to inspire students to channelise their creativity in a different direction. They can now make clothes which are also eco-friendly,” said Jayati Mukherjee, Design & Student Development Activity coordinator of NIFT, Kolkata.
Nightwear out of transparent blister sheets, lingerie made of plastic cups and plates were some of the exhibited items. “These clothes were not daily wear, but they will look great on the ramp,” said Durbamala Roy, winner of the competition.
Another prizewinner Aloke Singh, has made shoes out of newspapers. In fact newspapers can be used to make clothes. Newspaper is pulped and chemically treated. Then it is weaved with yarn to make garments. Like jute garments, newspaper yarn can provide a trendy new look.
Used clothes, small pieces of cloth thrown away while making garments, plastic products, ribbon, thermocol, carry bags, wires, yarn, clay and even bicycle tyres and moped inner tubes can be used to make garments. “If we present it professionally there is a market for such garments. People look for comfort and style, if we can provide both who knows these products can be popular too,” said Singh.
Raymond’s manufactures eco-friendly fabric out of bamboo shoots. Designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh is using fabrics made from wood pulp fibre for her fashion line. The time is ripe for venturing into virgin territory feels NIFT students. Moreover, by recycling clothes, there will be less pollution. The clothes would also be cheaper.
More than 10,00,000 tons of textiles are discarded every year. In fact, textiles make up about 3 per cent by weight of garbage in household bins. Eco friendly garments are bacteria free, non-allergic and can breathe, which means that they are comfortable.
“We want our students to explore the concept of eco-friendly garments. So much goes to waste and we do not even know their end use,” said Mukherjee.
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