Hi readers! Today we will be concluding sustainable fashion with an interview! We have interviewed the leader of a company, called Coral by Seema. They make various sustainable fashion accesories. Enjoy!
Name of interviewee: Seema Mathias
1)Why did you start your company for sustainable fashion?
Understanding that the Earth needs a system reset I turned to nature.
My philosophy is to bring people close to nature with simple solutions found in natural colors and sustainable organic materials. Influenced by natural surroundings my designs are a clear reflection of the love for the elements of nature. The designing process includes experimenting with materials and recipes to have a positive impact on the world, in the best way that I possibly can. Hand-dyed and bundle printed I use ingredients like flowers, roots, leaves and seeds, and their extracts. Each piece is handcrafted and goes through various processes and techniques. By using sustainable materials and components and producing long lasting quality artisanal designs, I hope to reduce environmental impact.
Our workforce comprises a majority of women employees, even in traditionally male-dominated roles such as tailoring. Ensuring access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities is a priority for all our workers.
By utilizing natural dyes, which are derived from renewable resources, we not only promote sustainability but also reduce water consumption during the dyeing process. Natural dyes require less water compared to other dyeing methods, aligning with our commitment to water conservation.
In our production approach, we prioritize creating limited pieces for each design, often crafting them specifically based on customer orders. This practice helps minimize waste and ensures that we produce only what is needed, reducing excess inventory and potential waste generation.
2) What changes have you made in the sustainable fashion industry?
Furthermore, with every new season, we introduce a range that creatively incorporates the remaining fabric scraps from our previous collections. This innovative approach allows us to maximize the utilization of materials and reduce textile waste, embodying our dedication to responsible and eco-friendly production practices. Salvaging the smallest of pieces, The outcome was a range of unique and unmatched pieces, a beautiful blend of natural colors, almost akin to art.
Crafted with a combination of skill and time-intensive labor, it is a gratifying and satisfying experience to utilize every last bit of waste and gradually approach the goal of becoming a 100% zero-waste label.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we provide garment re-dyeing and reprinting services to restore faded natural colors at the end of their lifecycle. Additionally, we have recently embarked on manufacturing textiles using our scraps and waste materials. To further promote circularity, we are exploring the option of implementing a buyback program, where we would repurchase used pieces from customers and repurpose them into this newly created textile.
3)Did you have someone who inspired you to start your company?
My greatest inspiration- The planet earth.
4)How is this making a difference towards protecting the environment?
Each handcrafted piece is hand-dyed and eco-printed with ingredients like flowers, roots, leaves, seeds and kitchen waste. Natural dyes are plant-based which are renewable resources, biodegradable and do not contain the harmful chemicals found in synthetic dyes that pollute the environment and our waterways. Natural dyes require far less water and energy than pigment dyes, reducing the carbon footprint.
5)How do you make your products? What kind of materials do you use?
We use natural materials like hemp, organic canvas, kala cotton, modal, mulberry silk, plant leather (Desserto and Banofie). Synthetic textiles like polyester are estimated to be the largest source of primary and secondary microplastics in the ocean, accounting for 34.8% of the global total (IUCN, Primary Microplastics in the Oceans, 2017).
Here is a picture of the interviewee:
