To celebrate World Ocean Day, House of Gharats is diving deep into an innovative fibre which could revolutionise the materials we wear and how they affect our skin. We are working with sustainable fibre company SmartFibreAG for our new Blue Fashion Scarf and Sleep Collection. Our silk, powered by their new SeaCell^TM fibre, is created using sustainably harvested seaweed.

At House of Gharats, we recognise the fundamental importance of water for the world. Our skin, brain and heart contain over 60% water each. Similarly, over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, making it a key part of our ecosystem. Our oceans provide a home for millions of species of underwater wildlife which are essential for building a healthy and safe world, both on land and underwater. In our new collection, our goal is to actively contribute towards the development of the Blue Economy, a movement which promotes the protection of our oceans and its resources, in order to create a more sustainable world.

We Are Water

Ocean plants are a vitally important global resource as they have healing powers for both humans and the Earth. Seaweed produces the majority of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere and can help us fight against environmental issues, such as rising sea levels and global warming. The ocean cultivates a unique agricultural environment which enriches these plants with essential elements and minerals, giving seaweed immense nutritional value which can improve our health and wellness.

Like the Earth, our skin, brain and heart are predominantly made up of water. House of Gharats believes that our bodies need to be treated with the same care as our marine ecosystems, in order to protect the ocean inside of us. A marine resource which can help us do that is seaweed. As a nutritious skin care ingredient, its unique blend of vitamins can help activate cell regeneration, relieve skin diseases, reduce inflammation and soothe itchiness. Seaweed possesses unique healing powers for both us and the ocean, building a connection between our bodies and nature.

 

Learn more about the Blue Fashion Collection

 

We Are The Future 

We need innovative fibres, such as those created by SmartFibreAG, to combat the environmentally detrimental impact of fast fashion on oceans. The fashion industry has become obsessed with replicating trends and using low quality materials in order make their products cheaper. These materials are made up of plastic microfibers which pollute and clog up our oceans, killing millions of marine plants and animals every year.

SmartFibreAG offers a more environmentally friendly method of production and is an important example of sustainable aquaculture. For our new collection, we are using their newly developed material SeaCell^TM, made from sustainably sourced seaweed and wood. Harvested in the cold and pure fjords of Iceland, crops are gently harvested from naturally grown, regenerative seaweed fields. When the seaweed is collected, it is carefully dried, crushed and ground so that the beneficial properties of the seaweed are permanently preserved in the fibre.

House of Gharats is creating the Blue Fashion Scarf and Sleepwear Collection with wellness and sustainability at the heart of the project. The collection, consisting of regenerative silk scarves and sleep wear, harnesses the unique health qualities of seaweed. The natural moisture levels of our skin enables us to absorb its beneficial substances, creating a feeling of relaxation and wellness. Throughout our projects, we are seeking to unite luxury with sustainability in order to change the current fashion landscape and promote a lifestyle centred around the mind and the body.

 

 

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We Are Our Skin #WorldOceanDay #OurOcean 🌍 The skin is a very large and important organ. Not only does it hold everything in, but it plays a crucial role in providing an airtight, flexible barrier between the outside world and the highly regulated systems within the body. House of Gharats has been working with @SmartFibreAG to learn about the special qualities of seaweed and how it can help our body as well as the world. This has helped us create beautiful fabrics which both look amazing and have nutritional value. 🧖🏻‍♀️ Seaweed is a really important global resource. The ocean cultivates a unique agricultural environment which enriches its plants with essential minerals, elements and antioxidants. 🌊 This gives seaweed an immense nutritional value, with powers to improve our overall health. For example, by lowering blood pressure with anti-inflammatory agents, it can be used as a vital tool for a health-conscious lifestyle. 💙

Un post condiviso da House of Gharats ®️ (@houseofgharats) in data: 10 Giu 2020 alle ore 5:23 PDT

 

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We Are What We Breathe #WorldOceanDay 💙 How can we create unity between land and sea? Life onshore and offshore may be more connected than we think, and #BlueFashion can play an important role in linking these two worlds. 🌍 House Of Gharats has been developing a new scarf and sleepwear collection with the power of SeaCell fibre from @SmartFiberAG that puts wellness at the heart of fashion. 🧣 Marine life-forms, such as algae and seaweed, produce up to 70-80% of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere. The preservation of these plants can therefore help alleviate emissions of harmful gas and fight against global warming. 🐳🌊 #ourplanet The world’s oceans provide a home for millions of species of underwater wildlife. 🐋These ecosystems are essential for building a healthy and safe environment, both on land and underwater. 💙

Un post condiviso da House of Gharats ®️ (@houseofgharats) in data: 9 Giu 2020 alle ore 7:02 PDT

With International Women’s Day just around the corner, we wanted to share with you the stories and achievements of inspirational #WomenInAquaculture. From female empowerment to sustainability, these ladies are well and truly leading the way. With the House of Gharats’ new ‘Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection’ created from a sustainably farmed seaweed, it seemed only fitting for us to focus on seaweed farming and the role women play in the process.

The power of women in aquaculture

An overwhelming 70% of all aquaculture workers are female. These women are decision makers, collectors, scientists, traders and agents of change but still the vital part they play  within the fishing and aquaculture industry is being overlooked. 

 Why? Simply put, women are fighting a hard and long fought battle against socio-cultural taboos and gender biased data which has removed them for the narrative. This needs to change, and it needs to change now. 

Inequality in aquaculture stretches the length of the globe. From Asia and Africa to Europe, women continue to fight against cultural stereotypes, they fight for financial stability, for representation in decision making bodies and to become a visible part of the fishing industry. 

Seaweed farming & female empowerment  

Now that’s not a pairing you see every day. I know what you’re thinking, what does seaweed farming have to do with female empowerment. Just stick with us and all will become clear!

Across the coast of Asia and Africa it’s not unusual to see miles of seaweed farms stretching as far as the eye can see, but what is unusual is the people working on these farms. The majority are women. Not only that, they are entrepreneurs, they are change makers and they have been instrumental in shifting the gender power balance in aquaculture. Now that’s girl power.

Along the coast of Tamil Nadu, women have been harvesting seaweeds for decades. Everyday these women brave the odds to provide for their families. Instead of wet suits and oxygen tanks they dive into the depths of the ocean in nothing but their sarees, a mask and rubber shoes.

For many women seaweed farming has transformed their lives. In Zanzibar women are working together to provide a sustainable livelihood for their families. Social norms are changing, the gender balance is shifting and women are no longer restricted for simply being a woman.

Looking to the future

Once again women have been thrown onto the front line in the battle against climate change. It’s up to them to adapt, develop and drive change – and that is exactly what they are doing. 

The rising ocean temperatures are killing seaweed, but these women are not going down without a fight. By working with researchers and scientists, local women are growing seaweed species which are able to survive in higher temperatures. Women are taking conservation into their own hands and winning. Their spirit, determination and power is contagious! 

From sea to skin

At the House of Gharats female empowerment works hand in hand with sustainability. Working in collaboration with the Commonwealth Blue Charter initiative and Commonwealth Fashion Council we created the ‘Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection’ using ‘Seacell™ ’, a fibre made using sustainably farmed seaweed. It is our hope that sustainable seaweed farming continues to grow, this fibre has the potential to become an important resource not only for fashion but for the livelihoods of women across the world.

Women are adapting and with them we are changing the way the world views fashion. We are on a mission to change the world, one scarf at a time.

Have you ever heard of #seaweed silk?

See #BlueFashion designer @neishaagharat on how her design label branched out into marine-based fashion that is both beautiful & gentle on the 🌍
👉See her designs for yourself this week @FAO #Biodiversity2020 Atrium display | @FAOclimate pic.twitter.com/LHc0dTNln8

— FisheriesAquaculture (@FAOfish) February 24, 2020

Wordsmith : Zoe Parsons

Art as a Tool for Ocean Conservation

Our Oceans are in Crisis, as the United Nations declared the decade of the Ocean to help fight pollution and promote the harvesting of the ocean resource sustainably. Many people around the world are doing their part to save our oceans, including contemporary artists. Harvesting the power of Art and Design to support ocean conservation. Through their art, they showcase the beauty of the ocean, as well as the devastating effects humans have had  on the ocean. From textile art and ceramics to painting and paper sculptures, art in all forms is used to save our oceans. We at House Of Gharats have used the medium of Art and live installation to do our part.  

House Of Gharats collaborated with the Commonwealth Fashion Council, to help build a Blue Economy through our ocean-friendly and sustainable collection; “Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection”, under the Blue Carter principles. The collection uses sustainably farmed, biodegradable material made from seaweed. To expand on our Blue Fashion mission, Neishaa Gharat, the Founder-Creative Director, created the Wishing Net installation at the Super Super Super event on 16 of September 2019 during London Fashion Week to invite wishes from fashion industry influencers and stakeholders. The live installation was inspired by the amazing work done by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as we invited the public to cast their wishes for the ocean. Neishaa Gharat aims to foster emotional connections to and drive positive action for our ocean through art and engagement.

The Super Super Super, cofounded by Sam Magee, Zoe Lem & Becky Mullins, is a platform for change and collaboration within the fashion industry. They are passionate about sustainability, diversity, global connections, storytelling and not afraid to strategically disrupt by asking big questions that create conversations, connections and awareness for brands and creatives. Which makes a perfect match for us at House of Gharats, as we aim to change the world one scarf at a time, whilst working towards our mission of to being As Sustainable As Possible, As Soon As Possible.  

Our oceans are under threat due to plastic pollution. Each year, at least 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean, which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. If no action is taken, this is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050¹. Working under the 14th goal; “Life below water” from the UN sustainable development goals, we wanted to battle plastic pollution in the best way we can; by raising awareness about it. 

The Wishing Net: Million Wishes for Our Oceans

The installation was created by upcycling an old fishing net and inviting the public to voice their anxieties and wishes for the future of the oceans. Vistors at the Super Super Super event were asked to write their wish for the oceans and tie them to our wishing net. The wishes cards were made from upcycled paper, which was cut into marine shapes, as we interacted with fashion influencers and Fashionistas. The public was keen to interact with the installation and share their concerns. People were passionate about keeping the plastic out of our oceans and protecting the diverse marine life. 

“I wish for our Oceans to be plastic-free one day!” 

People make change happen, and we need your wishes to make them come true. By casting a wish you are engaging in thinking about our oceans and are contributing to raising awareness. Our objective is to collect a million wishes by 2020. Help us to reach our goal. Join us on Instagram or Facebook @HouseOfGharats to cast your wish for the ocean and help raise awareness. Sea you there. 

References:

¹Ellen Macarthur Foundation (2016) The New Plastic Economy. Rethinking the Future of Plastic. Available at: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/EllenMacArthurFoundation_TheNewPlasticsEconomy_15-3-16.pdf (Accessed: 29 October 2019).

We are reflecting on material culture and its impact amidst the Extinction Rebellion protests in London and across the United Kingdom.

Groups of activists such as The Red Brigade who advocated against the endangerment of all animals that we share the planet with, tying in with the sea creature crisis whereby hundreds of harmless sea-life get caught in our waste. Famous names such as Jason Momoa joined the fight to protect the oceans.

Other protest groups such as the Animal Rebellion tied themselves to the gates of Billingsgate, the largest inland fish market in an attempt to protect Sea-Life.

Fashion’s contribution?

There’s no doubt that fashion is one of the biggest contributions for the state of today’s oceans. Fast fashion in particular, overuse synthetic fabrics which pollute the oceans…it’s predicted by 2050, 22 million tons of microfibres will end up as ocean pollution. At House Of Gharats we have embarked on a journey to ensure that we design and produce mindfully because we sustainability is long journey with good intentions at heart.

Mary Creagh MP, Wakefield representative since 2005, leads the environmental audit committee. She describes the current tragedy as; “Producing clothes requires toxic chemicals and produces climate-changing emissions. Every time we put on a wash, thousands of plastic fibres wash down the drain and into the oceans. We don’t know where or how to recycle end of life clothing. Our inquiry will begin to investigate how the fashion industry can remodel itself to be both thriving and sustainable.”

Fast fashion is an obvious factor that is held accountable for ocean pollution, and as Mary described, every time you wash your favourite garment, thousands of plastic fibres invade our ocean. Nylon is a popular fabric in the fashion industry, also a form of plastic. These are made in huge quantities to meet customer demand, and this leads to repeat custom – which is what businesses want, but is it what the environment needs? 

Rather than ranting about the challenges we are currently facing,  read on to find out about how we can create and partake in solutions, and dive into the House Of Gharats very own contribution: Our Blue Fashion Silk Scarf. 

A Sea Change In Sustainable Material Culture

Across the fashion industry, many fashion & lifestyle brands are introducing sustainable collections & collaborations. A popular fabric amongst the high street retailers is ‘BIONIC’; made out of plastic waste recovered from shorelines worldwide…meanwhile, an upcycling approach is also another popular option. Fashion has discovered natural resources rather than something processed and wasteful.

What is BIONIC?

Bionic is a material that is made out of recovered plastic from the ocean and coastal environments. It can be used to create more durable materials. Many fashion brands have started to use this for products such as trainers and sportswear. Pharell Williams is a notable advocate for this material, founding his own company which provides the materials to fashion and other brands.

What about ECONYL?

Econyl is a fabric made out of regenerated nylon; fishing nets are collected from the sea, and they can then be recycled into clothing, driving the industry into a more sustainable future. This is specifically popular with fashion brands as they still get the same nylon as if it was brand new, enabling them to align with a fast fashion approach. You can find Econyl in stylish accessories, clothing and even designer handbags. 

Creating value from ocean waste

Upcycling, not to be confused with recycling, is using discarded waste and turning it into something of more value; this can be something that is turned into something that’s deemed as very high end, essentially creating something of a higher value. The growing tribe of conscious customers won’t buy from a brand who exploits its workers or uses fabric which becomes lethal to our oceans and the creatures that call it home. 

For example, founded by Kenyan entrepreneur Newton Owino, fish-skin is a new alternative to traditional sources of leather. The idea of using this is emphasising the fact that especially in the fashion industry, we should try to put waste reduction at the forefront of our businesses. Fish-skin would normally be discarded or sold for a very low price, so why waste it when we can take a more resourceful approach? 

A new radical approach to sourcing materials 

Other examples include organisations that have surfaced amongst the rise of sustainability in fashion include Norway’s Nofir, who recycle discarded fishing equipment and turn it into clothing, as well as furniture and carpets for retailers across Europe. On one occasion, they contributed to making ‘Brace-nets’ a small bracelet made from discarded fishing nets in partnership with the company ‘BRACENET’. Not only do they reduce the amount of fishing nets in the seas which are lethal to the residents of the sea, but it gives us something in return. 

House of Gharats Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection

House of Gharats collaborated with the Commonwealth Blue Charter initiative and Commonwealth Fashion Council to create ‘Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection’ using ‘SeaCell’ silk fabric.

The Commonwealth Blue Charter was a landmark document launched at CHOGM 2018 where all 53 Commonwealth countries galvanised their support for ocean action. Progress under the Blue Charter is being carried out through member-led Action Groups on issues from ocean acidification to coral and mangrove restoration, and from marine plastics to the blue economy.

But what is SeaCell ? SeaCell is a fibre which is made out of sustainably farmed seaweed sourced from the depths of our oceans. Yes, you read right. Seaweed! SeaCells’ silk fabric has an antioxidant property which makes it innovative due to its many minerals enabling it to care for your skin while it is biodegradable.

Customers aren’t only buying our clothes. They are buying our values

We created a collection inspired by the oceans and the many creatures that call it home. We wanted to ensure that it was made with love, care and creativity aligning with the values at the very core of our brand; culture, art and sustainability. This was evident through the art of the ocean that inspired the designs, to the production, and lastly the amazing fabric that is seacell. 

“I am on a mission to change the world one scarf at a time. The Blue Fashion Scarf Collection in collaboration with The Commonwealth Fashion Council is a timely and important message through fashion to save our oceans and ocean life, crucial for the well being of our planet. Our home. “ says Neishaa Gharat, Creative Director of House Of Gharats.

Discover the ‘Blue Fashion’ collection created by the House of Gharats in collaboration with the Commonwealth Fashion Council. A silk scarf collection for both women and men, In which luxury meets sustainability. A voyage of discovery not seeking new landscapes but having new eyes, in the words of Proust, best describes the design inspiration of the Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection. We shall swim through Neishaa Gharat’s creative vision of incorporating key influences into illustrating the Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection; From the Queen’s corgis to Mickey Mouse toys to submarines, this scarf collection is filled with luminous yet hidden treasures. Join us as we unravel more about the new collection and our collaboration.

We at House of Gharats believe in creating conscious luxury for artful dressing and living. Our motto is to be As sustainable As Possible, As Soon As Possible and we’re on a mission to change the world one scarf at a time. The Commonwealth Fashion Council is a not for profit organisation uniting over 20 national fashion councils and weeks from across the Commonwealth Fashion Industries1. Together we’re working in alliance with the Blue Charter agreement to be at the forefront of the decade of the ocean. The Blue Charter is an agreement between the 53 Commonwealth countries, which started in April 2018. In the Blue Charter, Commonwealth countries agree to actively cooperate to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development, with particular emphasis on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 14 (Life Below Water).²

Therefore, we have teamed up to create scarves inspired by the ocean and its creatures, we are calling it the Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection. We believe this sustainable fashion silk scarf collection adheres to the vision of the Commonwealth Blue Charter which is to create the ‘Blue Economy’. The Blue Economy is a concept which encourages better stewardship of our ocean and its resources, to improve the lives of communities. The House of Gharats is also pushing forward the ‘100% Made in the Commonwealth’4 initiative which puts the Commonwealth first, what this means is that it will support cross-regional trade, exposure and income to encourage designers and manufacturers to think more about their impact and encourage sustainability and ethical processes across Commonwealth fashion initiatives.

Commonwealth Fashion Council & sustainable fashion

 The Commonwealth Fashion Council (CFC), is focused on programmes of furthering fashion education, sustainable development, youth and gender empowerment and trade across the Commonwealth. As a non-profit organisation, they rely on the strong relationship that is found in the Commonwealth family, this has allowed the CFC to engage with governments and fashion industries within the Commonwealth. Their goal is to create a lasting and meaningful network with different fashion sectors around the globe, in accordance with the principles of the Charter Commonwealth¹.

Submerging ourselves into the ocean 

The ocean may have been seen as something that has divided us into lands. For most of human history, our oceans were seen as something of an abyss, a no man’s land. At House of Gharats want to highlight the beauty of our oceans with its vast coral reefs that teem with life and basks in all the colours of the rainbow. We want to bring awareness to the critical damage caused by human activities that could bring an end to coral reefs. The Coral reefs provide a home to about 25% of all marine species and are the most diverse of all the planet’s ecosystems, rivalling the diversity found in the Amazon rainforest⁵

 This Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection depicts the life that flourishes in the depths, but the message of this collection is that these underwater communities could soon disappear. We hope to open people’s mind to save our coral reefs, and change their perception of oceans; We want people to no longer to see the ocean as an abyss of where our trash can be dumped but as a home for other life forms. Our goal is to change people’s perception and the treatment of our oceans, to see it as uniter for people to work together to save it.

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has shown loud and clear advocacy for the renewed commitment by the member countries of the Commonwealth Blue Charter to support coral reefs by creating an action group with the mission is to get the Commonwealth nations to cooperate on sustainable ocean governance, to protect and preserve6. The Secretary-General initiated the adoption of the Blue Charter by all 53 nations. This laid the foundations for collaboration to solve ocean-related issues which include climate change, overfishing and pollution. Most significantly, many member nations have pledged to specifically focus on coral reef regeneration, riding the ocean of plastic and mangrove restoration.

Circular economy

The current linear economy system is no longer working for businesses, people or the environment. We at House of Gharats want to take a more circular approach. We must transform all the elements of the take-make-waste system: how we manage resources, how we produce and interact with products, and what we do with the materials and waste afterwards⁷

Only then can we create a thriving economy that can benefit everyone within the limits of our planet. By using a biodegradable material we are doing our part to eliminate landfill waste⁸ and help promote a circular economy

Seaweed, The Power of Seaweed in fibre

We at House of Gharats did not want a scarf collection inspired by the ocean to only be focused on the design elements, but to integrate it into the fibres of our scarves. Smart Fiber’s SeaCell™ is used for the Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection. SeaCell is a silk fabric that contains active seaweed, that is completely biodegradable and carbon neutral. SmartFiber is at the forefront of textile innovation, providing a sustainable solution to non-biodegradable synthetic materials that crown our landfills. 

The seaweed for Seacell fabric is obtained from a gentle and sustainable harvesting process that only removes the part of the seaweed that can regenerate. The seaweed is entirely untreated and all its ecological value is retained.11 The patented process embeds the seaweed firmly within a natural cellulose fibre. As a result, the positive properties of the seaweed are permanently preserved within the fibre, even after multiple washing cycles. By using this material, we are doing our part to help build a Blue Economy. 

Seaweed is a sustainable, environmentally-friendly and is good for our bodies. Seaweed has great skin benefits. It helps to soothe irritated skin and promotes cell rejuvenation. The natural moisture level of the skin enables an active exchange of those beneficial substances between the fibre and the skin, providing a noticeable sense of wellbeing. The seaweed is pure and rich in essential substances such as trace elements, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The properties found in seaweed help to activate cell regeneration which can help to reduce inflammation, relieve skin diseases and soothe itchiness. 

Patterns and motifs inspired by ocean creatures and coral reefs

The inspiration and influence of the world’s coral reefs are indeed the most prominent design elements of this Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection. The Coral reefs became the main focus for this collection due to the harmony of animals that dwell in them. These creatures remind us that the coral reef is their home. This realisation sent us falling down the rabbit hole to discovering the important role that the coral reef plays in supporting aquatic life. We learnt about the damage being caused to the coral reefs of the world. Thus we wanted to highlight and reflect the beauty of coral reefs with its creatures and vibrant colours in this Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection.

The coral reefs are spawning and nursery grounds that are environmentally important for marine populations to thrive, making it essential that we keep them safe. One square kilometre of healthy, well-managed coral reef can provide more than 15 tonnes of fish and other seafood each year⁴

The coral reefs also provide millions of jobs to local people through fishing, tourism and recreational activities. They are a source for some of the most impactful medicines in the 21st Century, this includes treatments for HIV, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ulcers and other ailments. If a coral reef degraded or destroyed, they could be reduced or eliminated, forever⁹

Seeing Beauty in Waste

Mandy Barker’s photography is a beautiful and shocking commentary on excessive plastic consumption

A British artist named Mandy Barker is one of the key inspirations that made this Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection what it is. She is an international award-winning photographer whose work involving marine plastic debris has received global recognition. One of her most internationally-acclaimed photography series is named Hong Kong Soup. It exhibits footballs and other human-made materials collected from beaches and the ocean into a dark environment. Also, the vibrant colours of the footballs illuminate in contrast with the dark surroundings. Barker describes this concept as representing the blackness of the deep sea and that “plastic debris has no boundaries, plastic is found from the sea bed to the sea surface, from the polar regions to the equator”.¹⁰

What particularly fascinated Neishaa Gharat about her work is that she collects objects that are waste in of themselves. Mandy Barker creatively combines these objects and collectively turns them into pieces of art sculptures and then photographs them. She creates breathtaking artworks whilst simultaneously spreading awareness of waste in our oceans. This influenced Neishaa Gharat and House of Gharats to include depictions of common man-made waste found in the ocean onto this Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection.

The Sculpture Coralarium: The world’s first semi-submerged tidal art gallery

Coralarium installation is a semi-submerged art gallery filled with nearly 30 sculptors that act as a habitat for coral and other marine species. It was made by the British sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor and took him nine months of dedication. In the end, he created an “inverse zoo” because we’re in the cage and the marine life can come and go and look at us. The installation is situated in a large coral lagoon on the island resort of Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi in the Maldives. Taylor explains that the Coralarium “exists in three different elements,”, explaining the work’s multifaceted approach. “A set of sculptures that interact with the sky and the atmosphere. There’s a set of works that are in the tidal area. They live both above the water and below the water. The idea is that it’s about taking all the elements of our planet and showing that everything is connected.”¹² The Sculpture Coralarium has been a great inspiration for this collection and is featured on one of our scarves. 

Her Deepness, Sylvia Alice Earle

Sylvia Earle is an American marine biologist. She is most famous for founding numerous marine organisations, this includes Mission Blue, SEAlliance, Deep Ocean Exploration and Research.¹³

She has also received numerous accolades and has mounted to extraordinary achievements in the marine science field; she has led over 100 expeditions, held the world record for deepest untethered dive and logged more than 7,000 hours underwater. The New York Times named Earle “Her Deepness”.

Most significantly, she launched a program dubbed “Race to the Marianas Trench” which utilises a deep-sea submarine. What is most striking about this is the submarine itself; Neishaa Gharat fell in love with its design as it resembles an ocean creature. Neishaa Gharat saw Sylvia as an inspiration because she is a female scientist that has achieved a lot in marine science that supports the well-being of the planet and people. Thus, we included her “Race to the Marianas Trench” submarine as a design element in a few of our scarves.

Everyone has roots in the ocean, even the British Royal Family

The British Royal Family is playing an active role in promoting sustainability through their work in the Commonwealth committee, highlighted through the CHOGM. Although the British Empire’s Commonwealth ended decades ago, there are still 15 Commonwealth Realms that have The Queen as their monarch, including the United Kingdom. Prince Charles has been involved in the developments in sustainability in general and sustainable fashion are very notable, he has launched numerous organisations including Campaign for Wool, the Prince’s Rainforest Project and The Prince’s Trust.

The Queen has sovereignty over all aquatic animals, including whales, sturgeons and dolphins in the waters surrounding England and Wales. The monarchy recognised whales, porpoises and dolphins as ‘royal fishes’ when they are captured within the British domain. Furthermore, when sturgeons are sold in a usual way when captured, as a gesture of royalty, the purchaser requests the honour of it being accepted by Queen Elizabeth 2. The Queen is also known for her love of Corgis. It started in 1933 when the Queen’s parents got the family’s first corgi, named Dookie. In total, she had more than 30 corgis in her lifetime so far.

The Royal family have been incorporated into this Blue fashion collection. We translated the Queen’s sovereignty over aquatic animals, more specifically the royal dolphins into a design element; we made a corgi represent Her Majesty, and have it ride a dolphin. Inspired by the Royal Family’s work in sustainable developments. We have depicted three corgis in one of our Blue Fashion Silk Scarf, each one representing Her Majesty, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Princess Meghan. These corgis were personal companions to the Queen — she even called them family.

The Commonwealth Youth Forum – one billion young people strong

The Queen appointed Prince Harry and Princess Meghan positions in the Commonwealth Youth Forum. The Commonwealth Youth Forum provides an opportunity for young people of the Commonwealth to build cross-cultural connections and networks,  debate the challenges facing its young people, and agree on youth-led initiatives to influence decision-makers and ensure young people have a voice in its future. Meghan has previously expressed an interest in learning more about the Commonwealth, so she is excited to partake in the Youth Forum which is a very important organisation, this is because the future of the Commonwealth depends on its one billion young people. The summit built links between countries to offer young people access to knowledge and skills; and give them a voice on key issues such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Commonwealth Fashion Council’s passion for sustainable fashion

In the Blue Fashion Silk Scarf collection series, we did an in-depth analysis of the Commonwealth Fashion Council and their affiliation with the Commonwealth itself. Therefore, to briefly recap, the Commonwealth is focused on dealing with current and critical issues that affect the 53 member nations. There is no doubt that pollution in waste is one of the most critical global issues. Thus, the Commonwealth Fashion Council is a prominent organisation that is responding to this issue in an angle that focuses on sustainability in the fashion industry. Their work challenges leaders of the fashion industry in member nations of the Commonwealth Fashion Council to find sustainable and ethical ways to reduce pollution in waste.

There is no doubt that pollution in waste is one of the most critical global issues. Thus, the Commonwealth Fashion Council is a prominent organisation that is responding to this issue in an angle that focuses on sustainability in the fashion industry. Their work challenges leaders of the fashion industry in member nations of the Commonwealth Fashion Council to find sustainable and ethical ways to reduce pollution in waste.

Blue Fashion Scarf Collection presented at the Blue Charter, All Champions Meeting

Our oceans inspired scarves take on the world, as the Blue fashion Scarf Collection makes its debut at the Commonwealth Blue Charter’s All Champion Meeting. The Blue Fashion Scarf was presented at the all champions meeting which took place between the 18 – 21 june 2019, at the Marlborough House in London, by Jeff Ardon and Alison Swadling¹⁴. The event marked one year since the launch of the Commonwealth Blue charter, and brought together 14the champion countries’ leading Action Groups, to reflect on the past year of ocean conservation projects, and plan for a better future for our oceans. At the event, Alison Swaddling, an Ocean Governance Adviser, was seen modeling the Blue Fashion Scarf and we have to say that sustainability never looked so Fashionable.

We at House of Gharats, are truly committed to helping the ocean and have been working on another exciting ocean project. Neishaa Gharat is invited to create the Wishing Net installation at the International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability in Rome, Italy. Join us on Instagram to cast your wish for the ocean and help raise awareness, and learn more about the project. 

House Of Gharats Blue Fashion Scarf  will be showcased at the Blue Fashion and the Innovation Forum at the International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability, which takes place in Rome, November 18-21 2019. Make sure you follow us on instagram @HouseOfGharats and keep an eye on our blog for more updates. The collection will be available to buy in February 2020. For further enquiries write to hello@houseofgharats.com, or place your pre-order now on our website. 

Let’s build a Blue Economy together, one scarf at a time. 

Wordsmith: Zakaria Abdullahi
Editor: Maria Demime

References (Harvard Style):

¹The Commonwealth (2017) ‘Commonwealth fashion Council’ Available at: https://thecommonwealth.org/organisation/commonwealth-fashion-council (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

²The Commonwealth (2018) ’About us’ Available at: https://bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org/about-us/ (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

³Ellen Macarthur Foundation (2016) The New Plastic Economy. Rethinking the Future of Plastic. Available at: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/EllenMacArthurFoundation_TheNewPlasticsEconomy_15-3-16.pdf (Accessed: 29 of October 2019).

⁴Commonwealth Fashion Council (2018) ‘100% made in the commonwealth’. Available at: http://commonwealthfashioncouncil.org/100-made-in-commonwealth/ (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

⁵The Commonwealth (2018) ‘Action Group on Coral Reef Protection and Restoration’ 

Available: https://bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org/action-groups/coral-reef-restoration/ (Accessed: 30 October 2019)

⁶The Commonwealth (2019) ‘Blue Charter group gears up to protect and restore ‘priceless’ coral reefs’. Available at: https://bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org/blue-charter-group-gears-up-to-protect-and-restore-priceless-coral-reefs/ (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

⁷Ellen Macarthur Foundation (2019) ‘What is the Circular economy?’ Available at: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/what-is-the-circular-economy (Accessed: 2 November 2019) 

⁸ WRAP (2013) ‘WRAP and the circular economy’. Available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/about-us/about/wrap-and-circular-economy (Accessed: 4 November 2019) 

⁹ Coral Guardian (2013) ‘Why are coral reefs so important?’ Available at: https://www.coralguardian.org/en/coral-reef-important/(Accessed: 31 October 2019)

¹⁰Ong, J. (2018) ‘Mandy Baker’s Photography is a beautiful and shocking commentary on our excessive plastic consumption’ Available at: https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/mandy-barker-penality-series-photography-260918 (Accessed: 31 October 2019) 

¹¹SmartFiber Ag (2017) ‘The power of seaweed fiber’ Available at: http://www.smartfiber.de/en/fibers/seacelltm/ (Accessed 29 October 2019) 

¹²Stewart, J. (2018) ‘World’s first Inter Tidal Art Gallery Opens in the Maldives’. Available at: https://mymodernmet.com/coralarium-fairmont-maldives-jason-decaires-taylor/ (Accessed: 31 October 2019) 

¹³National Geographic (2017) ’Sylvia Alice Earle’ Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/sylvia-alice-earle (Accessed: 31 October 2019) 

¹⁴ The Commonwealth (2019b) ‘Event: Commonwealth Blue Charter – All Champions Meeting’ Available at: https://thecommonwealth.org/media/event/event-commonwealth-blue-charter-all-champions-meeting (Accessed: 5 November 2019) 

The House of Gharats has been working in collaboration with The Commonwealth Fashion Council, under the Blue Charter principles to create the new ‘Blue Fashion’ silk scarf collection. This collection is inspired by the ocean and made with a piece of it too. Let’s dive in, and explore the active role we, at House Of Gharats, are playing in spreading awareness of the ocean plastic pollution crisis and our efforts of establishing a global Blue Economy.

What is the Blue Economy?

The current linear economy is no longer working for the people or the environment. We at House of Gharats want to take a different approach, a more circular approach. Blue Economy is to harness the potential of our oceans and other bodies of water to improve the lives of communities. They particularly focus on developing countries, youth, women and indigenous peoples. This reflects the goal of the Commonwealth Fashion Council, as well as our collaboration in creating sustainable fashion scarf which we believe is a stepping stone in reaching this goal; by spreading awareness to ocean lovers, fashionistas as well as silk scarf lovers, globally. 

By using a biodegradable material we are doing our part to eliminate landfill waste and help promote a circular Blue economy. The Blue Fashion silk scarf collection, comes from nature and holds a piece of the ocean within it, our users get to take that piece of nature with them, and when the scarf is no longer usable it can return back to nature through biodegradation. 

What is House of Gharats’s Collaboration with the Commonwealth Fashion Council about?

 House Of Gharats is a design house creating conscious luxury for artful dressing and living. Although we admire tradition, we also strive to push boundaries for the sake of finding new ways to have a positive impact on people and the planet. We believe in creating conscious luxury for artful dressing and living. Our motto is to be as Sustainable As Possible. As Soon As Possible, and we’re on a mission to change the world one scarf at a time. Recently, we have joined forces with the Commonwealth Fashion Council to collaborate on a Blue Fashion Silk Scarf that combines our shared love and passion for our oceans and its many creatures. All in all, this collaboration is beneficial for both parties as we have a common aim of supporting the environment.

Who are The Commonwealth Fashion Council? 

The Commonwealth Fashion Council is a not for profit organisation uniting over 20 national fashion councils and weeks from across the Commonwealth Fashion Industries¹ . Together we’re working in alliance with the Blue Charter agreement to be at the forefront of the decade of the ocean. The Blue Charter is an agreement between the 53 Commonwealth countries, which started in April 2018. In the Blue Charter, Commonwealth countries agree to actively cooperate to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development, with particular emphasis on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

The CFC actively collaborates to develop programmes to add social and educational value to members, whilst encouraging dialogue to create lasting and meaningful networks with the fashion sector. The CFC operates in accordance with the Commonwealth Charter and acknowledges the 3 trillion USD global fashion sector as a tool to develop nations, people and groups². The CFC highlights the importance of creating a sustainable fashion industry as they understand that the consumer holds the power to rewire processes.

 A sustainable silk scarf collection made of active seaweed

 To dive into the specifics of this collaboration, we are working together on a silk scarf collection that takes inspiration from our oceans. We have illustrated ocean creatures, Queen Elizabeth’s corgis, an array of vibrant colours and patterns inspired by coral reefs and much more. Most significantly, the scarf collection will utilise Seacell fabric which is a fibre produced exclusively from sustainable raw materials, including wood and seaweed. This material and method of production save both energy and resources. We wanted to create a scarf collection that raises awareness of the ocean plastic pollution crisis, not only by its design but also by what it’s made of which we believe will further connect an individual with the message of this scarf collection. 

Smart Fiber’s SeaCell™ silk is completely biodegradable and carbon neutral. SmartFiber is at the forefront of textile innovation, providing a sustainable solution to non-biodegradable synthetic materials that crown our landfills3. The seaweed for Seacell fabric is obtained from a gentle and sustainable harvesting process that only removes the part of the seaweed that can regenerate. The seaweed is entirely untreated and all its ecological value is retained⁹ The patented process embeds the seaweed firmly within a natural cellulose fibre. As a result, the positive properties of the seaweed are permanently preserved within the fibre, even after multiple washing cycles

Seaweed is great for our skin, as it helps us protect our skin against the harmful environmental influences that we are exposed to daily. Seaweed is also pure and rich in essential substances such as trace elements, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It helps to soothe irritated skin and promotes cell rejuvenation. The natural moisture level of the skin enables an active exchange of those beneficial substances between the fibre and the skin, providing a noticeable sense of wellbeing. The seaweed is pure and rich in essential substances such as trace elements, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The properties found in seaweed help to activate cell regeneration which can help to reduce inflammation, relieve skin diseases and soothe itchiness. 

On 5 December 2017, the United Nations declared a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable development  to take place between 2021-2030⁴. This is part of the UN 17 sustainable goals. The goal is to support efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure that ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean. This Decade will provide a common framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We at House of Gharats want to support sustainable fashion innovation be at the forefront of the Ocean Decade. Using Seacell fibre allows us to fulfil our motto of changing the world, one scarf at a time

A dive into the ocean plastic pollution crisis

Plastic was invented in the late 19th century, and production of this material reached mass production around the 1950s. This has made modern life possible. Little did people know back in those times that plastic could collapse our entire civilisation and the ecosystem.

We have a total of 9.2 billion tons of plastic to deal with. Of that, more than 6.9 tons have become waste. And, of that waste, a shocking 6.3 billion tons never made it to a recycling bin⁵. Some scientists estimate between 5.3 million and 14 million tons each year end up in coastal regions. New figures suggest that there are over 150 million tonnes of plastics in the ocean today. In a business-as-usual scenario, the ocean is expected to contain 1 tonne of plastic for every 3 tonnes of fish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish (by weight)⁶. 

Most of the plastic waste is not thrown directly of ships into the ocean, they are carelessly dumped into landfills and rivers and are blown or washed into the ocean. The most chilling part, we do not know how long it will take for plastic to completely biodegrade. Some estimate between 450 years to never. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected. As marine life is strangled by abandoned fishnets and six-pack rings. Also, marine animals consume plastic material, usually in the form of microplastic, that they confuse with food. This causes animals to carry that material in their bodies and we consume those animals which means we consume plastic, and that can cause serious health problems for us.

Prince Charles passion for sustainable fashion

Prince Charles is the current head of the Commonwealth after Queen Elizabeth stepped down and requested that he’d be the successor to her Majesty. Prince Charles is a strong advocate for sustainable fashion. Although the Prince has long been a connoisseur of traditional British menswear, his interest in sustainable fashion aligns him with more hipster and modern fashion. Many of the Prince’s initiatives and campaigns are widely recognised for driving environmental awareness and protection, this includes Campaign for Wool, the Prince’s Rainforest Project and The Prince’s Trust. These outstanding achievements led Prince Charles to be awarded the 2019 GCC Global Leader of Change Award.

House Of Gharats wanted to reference and honour the Royal family in this collection. Three of the royal corgis have been transcribed into our designs. 

Want to learn about a solution? here is the Blue Charter Initiative.

 This collaboration is taking place in alliance with the Blue Charter Principles. The Blue charter is an agreement between the 53 Commonwealth countries, which started in April 2018. In the Blue Charter, Commonwealth countries agree to actively cooperate to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development, with particular emphasis on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 14 (Life Below Water).²

Within the Commonwealth Blue Charter, are Action Groups which are led by ‘Champion’ countries. In 2019, 12 countries have already taken the positions of becoming Champions on nine topics they identified as priorities, they are Blue Economy, Aquaculture, Coral Reef Protection and Restoration, Ocean Acidification, Mangrove Restoration, Ocean Observations, Ocean and Climate Change,  Marine Protected Areas and Marine Plastic Pollution. In summary, this initiative works to combine member Nations of the Commonwealth to solve this ocean crisis and maintain solid governance that will ensure the elimination of ocean pollution.⁷

The best tool they are given in tackling these issues is the collective power of 53 nations and the resources, training guide that is essential to the successful implementation of strategies. Also, the Blue Charter and Commonwealth itself enables these countries and organisations to have the ability to have a platform to attract like-minded individuals to cooperate in reaching a similar goal. Thus CEO Daniel Hatton of the Commonwealth Fashion Council joined forces with House of Gharats founder-designer, Neishaa Gharat to work on their collaborative Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection.

Neishaa Gharat and House of Gharats are thrilled to be part of this mission and this network of institutions, organisations and businesses, spanning globally. This collaboration with the Commonwealth Fashion Council is nothing short of beautiful, we are actively working together to preserve the well-being of our planet for our future generations.

Blue Fashion Scarf Collection presented at the Blue Charter, All Champions Meeting

Our oceans inspired scarves take on the world, as the Blue fashion Scarf Collection makes its debut at the Commonwealth Blue Charter’s All Champion Meeting. The Blue Fashion Scarf was presented at the all champions meeting which took place between the 18 – 21 june 2019, at the Marlborough House

In London, by Jeff Ardon and Alison Swaddling. The event marked one year since the launch of the Commonwealth Blue charter, and brought together the champion countries’ leading Action Groups, to reflect on the past year of ocean conservation projects, and plan for a better future for our oceans. At the event, Alison Swaddling, an Ocean Governance Adviser, was seen modeling the Blue Fashion Scarf and we have to say that sustainability never looked so Fashionable.

To learn more about this collaboration, join our voyage across the series. Neishaa Gharat and Daniel Hatton speak about the collective power of the Commonwealth and the ‘Blue Fashion Silk Scarf’ collaboration. In addition, watch the full interview of Neishaa Gharat by Daniel Hatton or read the transcript.

House Of Gharats Blue Fashion Scarf will be showcased at the Blue Fashion and the Innovation Forum at the International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability, which takes place in Rome, November 18-21 2019. Make sure you follow us on Instagram @HouseOfGharats and keep an eye on our blog for more updates. The collection will be available to buy in February 2020. For further enquiries write to hello@houseofgharats.com, or place your pre-order now on our website. 

Let’s build a Blue Economy, one scarf at a time. 

References:

¹The Commonwealth (2017) ‘Commonwealth fashion Council’ Available at: https://thecommonwealth.org/organisation/commonwealth-fashion-council (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

²The Commonwealth (2018b) ’About us’ Available at: https://bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org/about-us/ (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

³SmartFiber Ag (2017) ‘The power of seaweed fiber’ Available at: http://www.smartfiber.de/en/fibers/seacelltm/ (Accessed 29 October 2019) 

⁴The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2019) ‘The Science We need for the Ocean We Want’ Available at: https://www.oceandecade.org/assets/The_Science_We_Need_For_The_Ocean_We_Want.pdf (Accessed: 31 October 2019)

⁵Parker, L. (2018) We made Plastic. We Depend On  It. Now We’re Drawing In It. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/ (Accessed: 31 October 2019) 

⁶Ellen Macarthur Foundation (2016) The New Plastic Economy. Rethinking the Future of Plastic. Available at:https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/EllenMacArthurFoundation_TheNewPlasticsEconomy_15-3-16.pdf (Accessed: 29 of October 2019).

⁷The Commonwealth Blue carter (2018) Commonwealth Blue Charter. Shared Values, Shared Oceans. London: Commonwealth Secretariat 

The Power of Seaweed in Fiber

We at House of Gharats did not want a scarf collection inspired by the ocean to only be focused on the design elements, but to integrate it into the fibres of our scarves. SmartFiber’s SeaCell™ is used for the Blue Fashion Silk Scarf Collection. SeaCell is a silk fabric that contains active seaweed, that is completely biodegradable and carbon neutral. SmartFiber is at the forefront of textile innovation, providing a sustainable solution to non-biodegradable synthetic materials that crown our landfills.³

The seaweed for Seacell fabric is obtained from a gentle and sustainable harvesting process that only removes the part of the seaweed that can regenerate. The seaweed is entirely untreated and all its ecological value is retained.² Seaweed is a sustainable, environmentally-friendly and is good for our bodies. Seaweed has great skin benefits. It helps to soothe irritated skin and promotes cell rejuvenation. The seaweed is pure and rich in essential substances such as trace elements, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The properties found in seaweed help to activate cell regeneration which can help to reduce inflammation, relieve skin diseases and soothe itchiness. 

The scarf will be a tangible embodiment of the Blue Charter’s values and Neishaa Gharat’s inspiration from culture, identity and today’s global issues. The importance of the scarf is that it will serve as a message of hope in relation to Neishaa Gharat’s ongoing goal of changing the world “one-scarf-at-a-time”.

What is the Commonwealth of today?

When you hear the word Commonwealth, I’m sure most of you will think about the British Empire’s rule over several countries. Many people will associate the term with hardship, discrimination and oppression. On the other hand, the Commonwealth of today, in perspective of the Commonwealth Fashion Council (CFC), is working hard to change this perception and they are indeed successful.

The CFC seeks to foster unity, cooperation and trade amongst member states to work as a collective power. More specifically, the CFC works to support and advocate sustainable development, education, youth and gender empowerment. In addition, the CFC is specifically focused on current and emerging fashion industries within member Nations of the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II was the head of the Commonwealth before being succeeded by Prince Charles. It was her wish for Prince Charles to be appointed. His role is mostly symbolic to atone to the unity of the Commonwealth through their shared history.

The Commonwealth celebrating 70 years

The Commonwealth, as we know it today came into existence 70 years ago. It officially began when the nations of Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), India, Pakistan, South Africa, Britain and Australia sat down in London for over six days. The agenda was complete and the nations came to a final agreement on 26th April 1949. Over 70 years, the value and relevance of the relationship have been consolidated and reaffirmed. The creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1965 and the growing number of professional programmes within the Commonwealth to respond to the current needs of countries and communities, including the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda on Trade and Investment, and most significantly, the Commonwealth Blue Charter on ocean governance, reflect this relevance.

The expansion of their member states in itself is an achievement to celebrate. Starting with just 8 nations, the Commonwealth of today has expanded to 53 nations from 1949 to 2019 – meaning 33% of the world’s population belong to the Commonwealth. Spanning across the Commonwealth, organisations are celebrating with a series of conferences, events, workshops, competitions throughout this year. This is to reaffirm pride of the impressive record of achievements and impact which has brought sustainable development.

Creativity and the Commonwealth by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK

The House of Gharats’ ‘Blue Fashion Silk Scarf’ collaboration was presented on the 14th of May 2019 at an event held at the House Of Parliament in London. 53 countries are members of the Commonwealth, each with a unique cultural heritage and creative scene. How are individuals, organisations and initiatives connecting people across the Commonwealth through creativity? How are issues and conversations in the Commonwealth explored through creative projects? What challenges do creative practitioners face?

CPA UK was joined by Daniel Hatton, Founder of the Commonwealth Fashion Council, Alison Cox, Founder of The Commonwealth Resounds, and Mr Gee, poet and presenter, to reflect on these important questions.

Daniel Hatton, founder of Commonwealth Fashion Council talks about the Commonwealth Blue Charter and Blue Fashion with Neishaa Gharat founder-designer, House of Gharats.

 

Daniel: Pleasure to be here in your studio, thank you so much for the invite and your warm hospitality as always. We are here to talk a bit about you and also about the House of Gharats and the evolution of the brand.

Neishaa: I’m a Bombay-girl just like you are…

Daniel: A Scouser.

Neishaa: I studied visual arts and co-founded one of the largest design studios in Bombay. Now almost about 12 years back, London is now home and in fact one of my key sources of inspiration because it’s one of the most multicultural cities and all of that inspires my work now as a Designer.

Daniel: So how did you come about with the idea of building the brand? and can you tell us a little bit about that and also the products you have created and the meaning of the products? because I know that your products have a lot of meaning behind them in terms of sustainability and education.

The meaning behind the brand.

Neishaa: My first life as I like to call it, I worked with many brands, that really inspired me to one day have my own brand. In fact, London inspired House of Gharats as a design house, designs for artful living and dressing.

It was founded on the premise that design is a superpower and I feel with that superpower we can make a difference to the world.

Our design collections currently include silk scarves that are designed in our studio in London but take inspiration from many different cultures from around the world. In fact, one of our customers, now I almost call her a collector, says that our scarves create bridges between cultures and that was one of the most beautiful feedback I have ever received from our amazing customer from The Netherlands, actually. She loves Indian culture but at the same time, she loves that it creates bridges between so many different countries, if you’d like to say so.

Culture, identity and today’s global issues inspire the design process at House of Gharats.

Daniel: You mentioned that you are a Bombay-girl at heart. How has that influenced the products that you create?

Neishaa: Bombay is energy, Bombay is electric, Bombay is chaotic, Bombay is dusty, Bombay is colourful, Bombay is noisy. I think that my work is about all of that, energy and spirit, it’s almost like a way of life that one can wear. Also, I think being Indian, colours really inspire me, I find so much meaning in them. Bombay very much…

Daniel: Has been your drive and force. Your designs are somewhat eccentric, colourful, vibrant.

The Commonwealth Fashion Council and; House of Gharats have come together to create a seaweed and silk scarf inspired by the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

Daniel: The reason we are working together, the Commonwealth Fashion Council and House of Gharats are because we were very much inspired by the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

Neishaa: Yes!

Daniel: And the Commonwealth Blue Charter’s commitment to the preservation of the oceans. So, we’ve been working together on a Blue Commonwealth Fashion Charter scarf, if you’d like. And we have been working with trying to create some designs for that particular scarf. Would you like to tell us a bit more about what the scarf looked like before we show you some images?

Neishaa: Yes!

How the mission of the Blue Charter has inspired the design of the Blue Fashion (silk and; seaweed) scarf.

 

Daniel: And tell me about the design process behind that and how the Commonwealth Blue Charter has inspired you?

Neishaa: Absolutely! So I think that I thrive in water and energy. We are more water than matter and I think that I remember you saying that to me. In the world, consciousness about our oceans being such an important part of our world is now so much more important.

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The Commonwealth Blue Charter is an agreement by all 53 countries to actively cooperate to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for suitable ocean development.

 

Neishaa: And when you told me about the Blue Charter initiative at the Commonwealth and I read about everything we are trying to achieve together as Commonwealth nations, it really got me thinking about a whole world beyond the one we see every day.

Daniel: The blue world.

Neishaa: Absolutely, the blue world. And it actually inspired me to go beyond, just the beauty of the ocean, trying to understand how important it is for the human race to protect our oceans, to treat them well, to be more conscious about what we take out of them and absolutely never throw things into them. It was so amazing, I couldn’t take my mind off it when I learned about the Blue Charter initiative.

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The importance of the scarf as a ‘message of hope’

 

Daniel: The scarf is such an important item for House of Gharats and for me the scarf it is sort of like your canvas if you’d like, there is so much going on there in terms of when you collaborate with that be the Big Issue when you do a limited edition run of scarves. You do see the scarf as a blank canvas and can you elaborate a bit more on that and the significance of the scarf and the importance of the scarf?

Neishaa: Absolutely! I believe I have a superpower, and that is being a Designer.

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House of Gharats wants to change the world “one-scarf-at-a-time”

 

Neishaa: I’ve set myself on a mission to change the world one-scarf-at a-time.

Daniel: I love that!

Neishaa: Thank you!

Neishaa: It is not designed for the sake of design, it is a design that gives a message. When you earlier mentioned that our work is very educational, it’s not in a preachy kind of way. We give our message in a very fun, eccentric, quirky kind of ways. We want to make this world a better place but we want to do it joyfully and the scarf for me is my canvas, I give my message to the world through my designs and that is how we believe we make a difference. And through that process, it is not just about the design it is also about how we make the scarf, it is ethically produced, it’s made with the best craftsmanship, it’s made with a sustainable material thanks to the SeaCell Fabric that we will be working with.

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House of Gharats will use seaweed and silk to produce the sustainable ‘Blue Fashion Scarf’ created by SmartFiber based in London. SmartFiber uses natural materials which have positive effects on your skin and body.

 

Neishaa: So the scarf is now more than just a scarf, it’s a message…

Daniel: It’s a message of hope.

Neishaa: A message of hope, absolutely! That knots itself together.

Daniel: Could you talk to us a little bit through the inspiration that the Commonwealth Blue Charter gave you in terms of your designs and how that has influenced the manufacturing process of the scarf?

Neishaa: Absolutely!

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Global issues around the preservation of our oceans’ have inspired House of Gharats to create a blue message to the consumer.

 

Neishaa: I think being more and more conscious about our oceans was something that was becoming a really important part of my consciousness and when you told me about the Blue Charter initiative at the Commonwealth, I felt that it is truly an important time for the world to come together because we are not going to be able to do this one country at a time, it has to be a collective effort and the Commonwealth nations are truly a collective power.

Daniel: It provides a mechanism, a blueprint if you’d like.

Neishaa: Absolutely! Passionate involvement from the British royal family makes it such an important initiative for Britain and many other countries within the Commonwealth.

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Today’s Commonwealth is a collection of 53 independent nations from across Africa, Asia, Europe, Pacific, Caribbean and; Americas-that’s 2.4 billion people and over 60% of the population are below the age of 30-so it’s a youth-oriented market.

 

Daniel: Tell me a bit more about how the Blue Charter has influenced your actual designs for this silk and seaweed scarf?

Neishaa: First of all, I completely deep dived, literally, into who are these beautiful creatures. As I said to you earlier, I love colours and I feel like I was meant for that world and not this one. Colours, the energy, how calm it was, was all really one aspect of the inspiration. But, you said earlier that our designs are eccentric and quirky.

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“Sneak Peak” at the design of the Blue Fashion Scarf from House of Gharats.

 

Daniel: Very much so.

Neishaa: And it is really important for us to bring a bit of humour into this whole conversation.

Daniel: Well, actually, do you mind me showing your design?

Neishaa: Not at all!

Daniel: How big is this scarf?

Neishaa: It is going to be a 90x90cm scarf. It is a beautiful scarf that you can wear around your neck and you can style it in the most beautiful ways.

Daniel: We are using seaweed, we are doing a collaboration with…

Neishaa: Yes! Yes! And that amazing innovation was also a really important part of my inspiration. Imagine silk that is made out of SeaCell Fabric which means that it is holding a part of the ocean within the fabric, so it’s not just the design, it is also what the fabric is made of is a part of the ocean.

Daniel: So it’s really a collaboration between land-based materials and ocean-based materials, and remember that the Commonwealth Blue Charter is all about collective collaboration. I’m okay to show this?

Neishaa: Yes, oh my god! Now she is our Queen and we researched and learned about the Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth. How can you bring her as a part of the story and…

Daniel: And her lifestyle in it too.

Neishaa: Yes and her lifestyle.

Daniel: So what have you done here? you have got a…

Neishaa: We’ve got Corgi wearing her crown.

Daniel: On the back of a dolphin. So this is going to form a part of the scarf?

Neishaa: Yes, and interestingly, as we know the Queen dresses very colourfully, it is a royal protocol that she needs to stand out. So we said, how about a colourful corgi matching all these beautiful sea creatures to bring this collection between the Queen, the ocean and her favourite Corgi.

Daniel: So this is the quirkiness of the design.

Neishaa: Yes! So this is a beautiful coral reef with lots and lots of sea creatures, everything from whales, to a starfish, to water snakes, a few more corgis and other elements which we’ll not talk too much about now, we will keep it a secret. This is a beautiful turtle and all of these are beautifully coexisting in the design.

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Sustainability and; transparency is key, both are found within the Commonwealth Charter

 

Neishaa: At House of Gharats we have been very interested in the idea of a sustainable future, including the material we use. I think that fabrics are a very important part of that sustainable story. So to be able to work with sustainable ocean fabrics is truly a fantastic opportunity for us and to be inspired by the Blue Charter initiative, I think we are playing a very important role in saving the blue planet.

Daniel: It is fantastic that all of this has come from the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

Neishaa: Yes!

Daniel: People don’t really know what the Commonwealth is today or they don’t understand it’s value. So I think speaking to someone like you and speaking about your journey with understanding the Commonwealth Blue Charter and what the Commonwealth is about today and putting that into a product where it is tangible for someone to actually touch and see, I think that is a very valuable thing.

Neishaa: Thank you! And Daniel, you have always told me about the Commonwealth of today and that is quite an important way forward for us as we need to come together as a world.

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Fashion industries within the Commonwealth have an opportunity to come together to solve the most pressing issues within today’s global fashion sector…

 

Neishaa: And the Commonwealth of today is about this beautiful partnership, collaboration, working together, inspiring each other and making a difference together. That would have been possible because we are members of the Commonwealth Fashion Council so we feel very lucky to be a part of this story.

Daniel: Thank you so much for your time, it’s been truly magical and I can’t wait to see the final product.

Neishaa: Thank you!

Let’s build a Blue Economy together, one scarf at a time. 

References:

¹The Commonwealth (2017) ‘Commonwealth fashion Council’ Available at: https://thecommonwealth.org/organisation/commonwealth-fashion-council (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

²The Commonwealth (2018) ’About us’ Available at: https://bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org/about-us/ (Accessed: 30 October 2019) 

³ SmartFiber Ag (2017) ‘The power of seaweed fiber’. Available at: http://www.smartfiber.de/en/fibers/seacelltm/ (Accessed 29 October 2019)