JOIN USFilling old wine in new bottles is not alien to mankind, for man has a strange penchant for rediscovering the precious latent value of what he has left behind long ago, in the name of progress. This time around, it happens to be the wonderful goodness of cotton fabric.
It is that time of the year when you switch to cotton clothes right from yours socks, innerwear, shirts, saris, dresses, jackets, sleepwear, and sportswear among other clothes. Though the concept of cotton clothes is not alien to Indians, now the world market for cotton clothing is laying emphasis on the superiority of organically produced cotton over the regular cottons.
For those who are wondering about the difference, it will probably help to know that toxins and synthetic fertilisers are avoided while growing cotton and harsh chemical bleaches or dyes are avoided during the processing.
It will be interesting to note that today, coloured cotton is grown on the stem in shades of brown, reddish brown, green and yellow, making the material 100% eco-friendly besides lending a special softness to the texture of the cloth.
Experts opine that since colour-grown cotton is not dyed, it does not fade and the colour will actually deepen when it is washed repeatedly. Dermatologists feel that using sheets and pillowcases, towels and bathrobes made of organic cotton can prevent several skin allergies and also contain skin diseases.
Organic cotton clothing was unheard of a few years ago but as on date, it is available in many stores and online businesses. Since going green seems to be the mantra, fashion these days is also becoming eco-friendly.
Leading companies have taken a step forward in this direction and have come up with their latest collections consisting of jeans, shirts and other trendy apparels made from
organic fabrics, natural dyes, raw denim, real indigo and super light linen.
The designers have taken special care to complement the simplicity of the fabrics in designs that are stylish in order to make cotton look cool.
While the men have denims in earthy fabrics like organic cotton-blended and linen-blended, the women have a range of feminine colours like shades of red, pink, orange and lilac besides other colours to choose from.
Shoppers of organic clothing have a wide range of choice because popular international brands are in the process of launching their eco friendly clothing lines for the global market.
Natural fragrance
Experiments are being conducted to infuse long-lasting natural fragrance in natural
fibres. In fact, scents of lavender and chamomile have already been successfully incorporated in clothing.
The elitists who are looking for something truly exclusive are being pampered with clothes having cotton meshes to facilitate free air-flow in sweat zones with the aim to lend an invigorating and comfortable feeling to the wearer.
Just about every kind of dress for women and men have hit the market. Harem pants, flared pants, halter tunics, vests, crochet jackets, skirts, kimonos, kurtas and calm pants – fine knit pants that fall like a skirt – drawstring pants, Chinese kurtas and fisherman pants; name it and you can find one-of course for a price. Oriental designs like chakras, Swastikas, Omkara, Chinese sun signs, flower motifs in bright colours are doing the rounds to rope in the fairly conservative eastern buyers.
Even as the world is looking at cotton options, India too has pulled up its socks and started reworking on its khadi and handloom fabrics.
Besides leading boutiques and brand names that cater to clothing, humble handloom houses, cottage industries and rural textile co-operative societies have also come up with a range of exotic saris in organic cotton in a mindblowing range of colours and designs just waiting to be picked up at their retail outlets or handloom exhibitions conducted in various cities.
The revival of cotton in the market can be a boon in disguise to our country, for we already have a hoary tradition and a plethora of varieties already in place.
All we need to do is restart from where we left behind and delve deeply into the ancient secrets of long lasting natural dyes and fragrances. This measure can open new vistas of business to our country and step up our economy in the long run and, to some extent, repair the damage that we have rendered unto our environment.
As the planet is getting hotter each year, there can be no better way to look cool than with cool cottons keeping in tune with the environment around us even as the lush green cotton fields nod their pretty heads in agreement.