The Fear of Slow Fashion Dying Out

"To write about Indian handicrafts is almost like writing about the country itself. So vast, complex, colourful, and yet with a simplicity and charm, difficult to attain under comparable conditions." Excerpt from 'Handicrafts of India' by M.N Upadhyay.

Organic Bed Threads taps into such textile rich crafts of applique, hand embroidery and woodblock print to adorn our handmade bedlinen that are India's heritage & global comparative advantage. Despite that over the past 30 years, the number of Indian artisans has decreased by 30%, indicating the need to re-invest in artisans to safeguard history, culture and livelihood.

As a Western textile designer fascinated with ethnic design, I have always felt compelled to support the age-old handicrafts, that are in fear of dying out to mass production, so that these cultural gems can be sustained into future generations of textile (fashion, design and craft) trade. The answer: greater appreciation and conscious consumer purchasing power of ethical production is required to help revive these master handicrafts, which is (after agriculture) the largest source of income among rural populations.

If we contine to encourage fast fashion with our unconscious purchasing power, we may see handmade quality, womens groups and generations of master artisanal techniques lost in our lifetime as we have with animal, plant and tribal species due to our neglect.

Handmade is from the heart, made with integrity created to last and adds value to our own lives. Lets keep the handmade world alive.