Chennai
From what goes inside to what you wear, the trend seems to be going green. For fashion designer Lalitha Calidas, it was not about jumping into the bandwagon but it was her passion for creating western casual and semi-casuals using organic fabric at affordable prices that inspired her to start a label of her own called Zila.
“Not just the design, we focus on responsible practices including the use of organic cotton, natural dyes and local sourcing to create contemporary casual garments with positive impact for the modern woman,” says Lalitha, adding that by choosing organic materials, we support farmers looking to make a difference and producing material for everyday wardrobe.
Lalitha, a student of design was attracted to the concept of organic fabric early on in her career. “When I was at NIFT, I worked on organic handloom sarees for my final year project. After that I worked in a design studio in Puducherry that made western fusion wear using Bengal cotton. When I returned to Chennai, I started working in a garment export company. A few years later, I quit to start a line of my own,” she says. Having launched Zila in May this year, Lalitha has chosen to sell her products through her Facebook page.
“I want to make organic western wear affordable for the masses. There are others in the market too, but they are expensive. My designs are minimalistic, made using handloom fabrics, hand embroideries and hand-block prints. Our products showcase the beauty of handmade imperfections that are perfect to make you look exclusive and chic.”
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