R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, AUG 28
Acclaimed ethical and sustainable fashion designer Vino Supraja launched her debut book, ‘What is Sustainable Fashion? – An Antidote to Fashion Pollution’, in Chennai on Friday.
The book was launched by her ⇑ English teacher Saraswathi Ranganathan at her school, who taught basics of the language in a small village Purisai, near Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district (formerly North Arcot district) and was received by LV Navaneeth, Chief Executive Officer of THE HINDU.
The book was launched along with the first reveal of the author’s latest fashion collection – Purisai, inspired by the ancient Tamil street theatre art form of Therukoothu.
- The book, ‘What is Sustainable Fashion? – An Antidote to Fashion Pollution’, is now available online from https://vinosupraja.com/
- She appeals women to be ‘Repeat Raani’s’ instead of amassing wearable at home
- The author’s latest fashion collection – Purisai, inspired by the ancient Tamil street theatre art form of Therukoothu hits the market.
Addressing at the book launch Vino Supraja said, “As a fashion insider I want to highlight the many shocking facts about the industry that are rarely spoken about. While most books on sustainable fashion tend to be data-heavy, difficult reads, I have taken a more reader-friendly approach, with facts, illustrations and reflections, to help reach out to a wider audience and empower readers to make more informed fashion purchase decisions”.
The event also saw the fashion designer’s latest collection – Purisai being released. This collection is inspired by the ancient Tamil street theatre art form of Therukoothu. Elaborating on her inspiration for this collection, Vino says, “Growing up, I lived just 10 km away from Purisai village where the folk art of Therukoothu thrives to this day. My latest collection is drawn from my vivid memories of the painted faces of the artists, the long stripes on their voluminous skirts, the crown, the décor and the many mythological characters they brought to life with each performance. This is the art form of my home, and this collection is my dedication to the art of Therukoothu, for making my childhood colourful”.
Vino Supraja’s collections have walked the ramp at the Shanghai Fashion Week, Brooklyn Fashion Week (10th Anniversary), New York Fashion Week.
Her 150-page book has its Foreword written by the globally acclaimed Bangladeshi model and UNESCO artist for peace, EARTHDAY.ORG ambassador Bibi Russell.
The book and the collection is now available on her website https://vinosupraja.com/
Vino Supraja made the conscious decision to change paths and move from being a couture to a sustainable fashion designer in 2018. She currently has 7 collections under her label.
What is Sustainable Fashion?
The book is split into three sections. The first, Fashion Violence explores the impact of the fashion industry on the environment. The second section examines the various thought processes in the average fashion purchase decision. Section three offers actionable points to help build a more ethical and sustainable wardrobe.
The Vino Supraja Label
Vino Supraja is a sustainable online women’s wear fashion brand. The label partners with skilled workers ensuring good working conditions, a living wage rather than minimum pay and no mass production or extortion. The brand handlooms its textiles and is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard. With a focus on reducing the impact of the fashion industry on the planet, the label ensures the recycling of its unused materials. All clothes created are aimed at being used for a minimum of 30 wears, if not more. The inspiration for the collections comes from myriad influences of architecture, literature, history, culture and Vino’s explorations of the world.