The T+L Champion of Sustainable Fashion, Amit Aggarwal talks to Travel+Leisure India & South Asia about what sustainable fashion means to him, the best destination for sustainable shopping, and more.
Excerpts from the interview with Amit Aggarwal:
T+L India: What does sustainable fashion mean to you?
Amit Aggarwal: Fashion in its most nascent and core aspect derives its inspiration from human emotion. In this sense, sustainability has always been part of our DNA. We never strategically think of weaving sustainability into a collection because it’s the bedrock on what our brand started from and rests on— from always using polymers and gravitating towards alternative materials.
T+L India: What prompted you to take the route of sustainability in fashion?
Amit Aggarwal: It all started from coming across a discarded piece of plastic on a factory floor in Okhla, Delhi. It was amorphous, abstract, and not easily understood. Only later did I realise it was polymer, and since that day polymer has been the signature of our brand. So, my journey to sustainability has never been conscious, it has been a part of our brand’s DNA since day one.
T+L India: Tell us about the innovations you have introduced over the years in your brand.
Amit Aggarwal: I wouldn’t call it innovation, as it would mean it’s final and has reached a place of perfection. For me, one is always learning. From our Plastic Perfect Line to Pedesis Couture 2022, we’re experimenting with new materials, weaving metallic jewellery, pushing the boundaries of silhouettes and pattern making to align ourselves with the larger human race.
T+L India: How does travel inspire you?
Amit Aggarwal: A better part of my inspiration does not necessarily come from fashion. It could be a poem, a line I read somewhere, or the endless possibilities and worlds that I come across in my travels. From the way Southeast Asian countries use basketry to the bustling markets of Turkey, to even coming across the masterpieces of Zaha Hadid, the inspirations are endless.
T+L India: Tell us about the road ahead for you and the brand.
Amit Aggarwal: We’d love to explore the theme of human evolution more, although we already have. The past few years have changed us irreversibly and I’d like to explore this new world order through a purist, human gaze.
T+L India: Which, according to you, is the best destination for sustainable shopping?
Amit Aggarwal: Every city has these pockets of alternative materials and sustainability—you only have to look for it.
Champion’s Choice
Things you can’t travel without: Kicks to stroll around the streets, moisturiser, and comfortable clothes.
Best slow travel destination: Bangkok.
Most popular
Most popular
