India has always had a deep connection to handmade textiles and mindful living. But with fast fashion dominating wardrobes today, the tradition is under threat. We need to pause and retrace our steps and understand what the impact of this transition is. 

Sure, it may be more modernised and keeping up with the times. But what is the cost behind our use-and-throw ootd?

Ethical fashion isn’t just a buzzword. It is essential.

What Is Ethical Fashion?

What is Ethical Fashion?

Photographer: Harnoor Juneja

It is extremely important to first understand what ethical fashion really is. It focuses on the people behind your clothes.

It means:

• Fair wages and working conditions
• No child labor
• Respect for cultural craftsmanship
• Environmentally responsible practices

It goes beyond sustainable clothing. While “sustainable” focuses on materials and the planet, “ethical” includes human rights and dignity in the fashion supply chain.

Why Ethical Fashion Matters in India Right Now

Why India Needs Ethical Fashion

Photographer: Mon Buragohain

India is both a producer and a consumer of fashion. That puts us in a unique position.

But there are problems:

• Mass layoffs in textile sectors
• Poor working conditions in factories
• Cheap imports and knock-offs crushing handloom artisan industry
• Rising waste from fast fashion trends

Do you know the irony? Many global eco clothing companies promote Indian techniques like block printing, handloom, khadi, all while Indian consumers chase trends from Zara or Shein knock-offs.

Supporting ethical and sustainable fashion means protecting our own crafts.

The Cost of Fast Fashion

The Cost of Fast Fashion

Photographer: Harnoor Juneja

The appeal is obvious: cheap, trendy, everywhere.

But ethical fast fashion is a contradiction. Here’s why:

• Polyester takes up to 200 years to decompose
• Textile dyeing is the second-largest water polluter globally
• One cotton t-shirt takes 2,700 liters of water to make
• Most fast fashion releases micro-plastics every time you wear them or wash them.

All this for a piece that you wore just 5–7 times on average.

Ethical fashion is changing this system.

What Does Ethical Clothing Look Like?

What Makes Clothing Ethical? 

Photographer: Sarang Gupta

You might imagine it’s all earthy tones and shapeless fits. But ethical and sustainable fashion in India isn’t about limitations. It is only about rethinking how we dress now.

Take the lungi, for example. It’s breathable, suited to Indian weather, and can be styled in multiple ways. Wrap it as a skirt, layer it with a shirt, wear it around the shoulders, or even drape it like a saree. It works across various genders and occasions to wear. The same piece, but way more versatile.

Or the 'angavastram'. It is traditionally a shawl, but easy to rework as a scarf, headwrap, or even as a belt. It’s made of natural fibres that are easy to wash.

This quality of clothing already exists since ages. We just forgot to see it as fashion, rather saw it as a lost piece of our heritage.

These pieces were built to last. Not everyone wants to spend their money on new clothes on a weekly basis, but it's the norm for most of us today. 

Ethical clothing today includes:

• Everyday silhouettes made from handloom cotton or khadi
• Lungi-inspired skirts and drapes that move between comfort and style
• Unisex kurtas that can be layered or worn oversized
• Natural-dyed fabrics that don’t harm the water bodies
• Looks you can wear, repeat, and restyle, without the guilt of tumbling our environment.

You're not sacrificing style or fashion. It’s just about shifting the focus: from trend-chasing to intentional dressing. It helps shift light from the insatiable "what's new" and moves to a satisfactory sense of personal style.

Affordable Ethical Fashion: Is It Possible?

Can Ethical Fashion Be Affordable?

Photographer: Dhruvin Shah

A common pushback among the consumers is price. 

Yes, ethical fashion can cost more upfront. But:

• It lasts longer, meaning you spend less in the long run
• It’s better for your skin and it has no toxic dyes and no microplastics
• You buy less overall

Not all options are expensive. And the money is fairly for and to the labourers. Meaning no sweatshops, no mass production, no unhealthy working conditions. 

You’ll find ethical fashion affordable at:

• Government-run khadi stores
• Direct-to-consumer brands
• Thrift and upcycled fashion pages
• Ethical fashion curated stores

Also, more ethical fashion websites are listing price transparency. You can see what you're really paying for. Labor, fabric, dyeing, shipping.

Who’s Leading Ethical Fashion in India?

Who pioneers Indias ethical fashion?

Photographer: Unimpressed With Life

Here are some of the best ethical fashion companies and designers pushing for change:

• Margn: specializes in reusing deadstock cotton and merino wool yarns to create fine knit T-shirts and trousers that are hand-knitted by women of Kullu
• Tula: Farm-to-closet cotton wear made entirely in India
• No Nasties: One of the earliest Indian eco clothing companies
• Lafaani: focus on creating garments from mono-materials, which not only ensures durability and timeless utility but also makes recycling easier
• Hoomanwear: Gender-neutral ethical fashion mens line with activism at the core
• Two Extra Lives: Your neighbourhood multi-designer concept store with only sustainable, ethical pieces for you to buy or rent.

These aren't just ethical clothing, dresses or shirts. This is a growing shift.

How to Shop Better: Ethical Fashion Tips

How to shop ethically

Photographer: Akash

You don’t have to switch overnight.

Start with these:

• Buy secondhand: Ethical and affordable. Instagram thrift stores are booming.
  Choose natural fabrics: Avoid polyester and acrylic blends.
• Ask questions: Check brand websites. Do they mention their workers or just fabrics?
• Rent: Renting is a great option for occasions you need outfits for only once. 
• Buy less: Ethical fashion is slow fashion. Invest in fewer, better pieces.
  
  

You don’t need 5 versions of the same t-shirt. You need one that lasts.

Why Men Should Care Too

Why Men Should Care Too

Photographer: Harnoor Juneja

Ethical mens fashion is catching up.

More Indian men are looking for:

• Organic cotton basics
• Locally stitched shirts
• Minimalist styles with clean cuts

But ethical fashion mens brands are still rare. That’s where demand matters. The more men support ethical and sustainable fashion, the faster this market will grow.

Ethical Indian Brands for Menswear

Ethical Indian Brands for Menswear

Brand: Samaaj

Ethical mens fashion in India is growing, but it still doesn’t get enough attention.

Most ethical and sustainable fashion brands start with womenswear. But a few are changing that.

Here are some Indian brands offering well-made, low-impact menswear:

• Samaaj – Shirts made from deadstock fabrics, hand-done Indian artisanal work
• Saphed – Handwoven linen shirts, shorts, and loungewear in earthy tones
• Anomaly – Timeless workwear using surplus fabrics, tailored for Indian men
• Loom & Things – Elevated basics made with khadi and handwoven cotton
  
  

These brands aren’t loud. They don’t do mass drops or trend cycles. But they do make quality pieces that last, look sharp, and feel good to wear. 

When more men start supporting ethical clothing, the market will respond. It’s the nature of the market. Style shouldn’t have to cost the planet, or compromise your values.

Ethical Fashion and Identity

Ethical Fashion and Identity

Photographer: Unimpressed With Life

There’s a cultural shift happening.

People are beginning to ask:

• “Where was this made?”
• “Who made it?”
• “What am I supporting with my money?”

Ethics and fashion are not separate ideas. They never were. Our insatiable desire for new and trendy made it seem as such. Every purchase you make is a vote. Either it’s for exploitation or for human dignity.

Final Thought: India Doesn’t Need to Imitate, It Needs to Remember

India should remember, not imitate

Photographer: Dhruvin Shah

Photographer: 

We already have centuries of eco friendly fashion traditions:

• Handloom cotton
• Indigo dyeing
• Minimalist living
• Mending and repurposing clothes

Ethical sustainable fashion isn’t a Western trend to copy. It’s an Indian value to reclaim and integrate back into our lives.

Whether you’re browsing an ethical fashion boutique or just buying fewer clothes this year, it matters and it will help create the change we need.

The world doesn’t need more clothes. It needs better ones.

Why Two Extra Lives Cares

At Two Extra Lives, we don’t just stock pretty clothes.

We care about where they come from, who made them, and how long they’ll last.

Every rental on our platform supports:

• Clothes made to be worn again and again
• Designers committed to ethical and sustainable fashion
• A system that values people and the planet over mass production
• Unique vintage finds

When you rent instead of buy, you reduce waste, save resources, and still wear something that feels new.

Fast fashion tells you to keep consuming.

We’re here to slow it down without losing the fun of dressing up.

Because ethical fashion isn’t just about buying better. It’s about wearing better, choosing better, and living better.