Management of Sustainability in the Fashion Industry

Anukriti Dwivedi

Anukriti Dwivedi's study on Sustainable Design focuses on finding out where the system has been unsuccessful and where it needs improvement. The project aims at creating solutions for the industry to be able to quickly absorb innovations, making them more adaptable and easily acceptable within the society. The fashion and textile industries are already among the most polluting ones in the world and there is no question that changes are needed. Not only does she mention sustainability on the production side including materials, fabrics, garment production and distribution, she also highlights the importance of eco-friendly retail and disposal, concluding with the roles the chosen sectors play in making the consumers accustomed to sustainable ways of fashion.

Anukriti Dwivedi

I'd really describe myself as a person with a versatile set of skills, a lot of integrity and the willingness to go an extra mile while thriving on challenges and constantly setting goals for myself. I’m not comfortable with settling, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. I am a people's person so I love meeting new people and learning about their lives, background and culture.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

The best thing about the future is that no one really knows what’s going to happen. But what I do plan to for my future is to use my knowledge and skills to give back to my community and country in a meaningful way. Maybe by teaching and mentoring the next generation of designers that are marginalised and simply doing my tiny bit in contributing to the world. And of course I will be wandering around in my fashion truck to a new city with a new fashion trend to sell every now and then. One thing I am pretty sure of is that I will be living a more creative life even outside of work, taking my time to create personal pieces.

What is a good design for you?

Good design to me is something that is extremely innovative or traditional, simple yet complex, and must serve a purpose and communicate an idea effectively. Its purpose should be to create positive change and inspire with beautiful, intelligent craftsmanship.

What was the most challenging experience during your studies?

The most challenging experience in my opinion was to understand, learn and work in a different learning environment and education system.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by people who feel enthusiastic and passionate about their job, their life, or their family. Also, I feel challenges are another big inspiration in my life which keeps me up no matter how hard they can get sometimes. I always believe that while challenges were meant to sometimes distract us, they can also give us hope and inspire us to do better.

How do you approach a new project?

I always start with quick research and check out a bunch of inspirational collections. Then I compile some of my old best work and think about what made each piece great. Is there something that unites them that I can pull from for the new project? After that, I move forward towards my role, responsibilities and my area of focus from which I further move to mapping out sources where I can learn more about the subject, organise how I wanna go about it, derive my perspective toward it and plan working according to my point of view on the matter through existing findings and materials already available. Using that knowledge, I create my own techniques to create something new.

What advice would you give to students who just started studying in your programme?

I suggest keeping an open mind and a positive perspective in mind. Don't get disheartened and keep trying until you succeed. Although the program is very creative, interactive and teaches you a lot of new things which will also be helpful in the future, communicating one's problems and difficulties with the faculties and fellows is also something to consider. Also, working out problems by yourself is equally significant. The most important thing is to be determined and work towards your goals by being hardworking and also having fun while learning.

Have you changed during your studies? How?

My perspective has expanded as I have learned a lot of new things during my studies. It was a new experience and has given me a better view of what professional work is like in the real world.

Why did you choose to study in your programme?

I want to run my own business one day and I thought it is the right time to learn about business management and all the other aspects of it. This way I can apply what I learned to my work in the most practical way possible.

What are you not going to miss in your studies?

Well, I am not going to miss working in groups and everybody ending up with different answers and the total chaos that usually occurs hours before the deadline. And also, working on theoretical submissions more than practical ones.

How are you going to celebrate your graduation?

Due to the coronavirus situation, I will do everything I normally would have done virtually. I'm going to talk to my friends and teachers online while also celebrating with home cooked meals and maybe a movie night with my folks!

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Mayuri Konwar