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.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/oUiQn8G8NwY
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.
Most nations within our Commonwealth are small island nations, who are dealing with mass pollution within their waters; from global plastic dumping, waste and pesticides to name a few. The Commonwealth Fashion Industries have a crucial role to play, more than half a trillion gallons of ‘fresh’ water is used in the dying process alone, amounting to 20% global industrial water pollution. The Commonwealth Fashion Council’s collaboration with House of Gharats demonstrates how land-based materials (silk) and Ocean-based materials (seaweed) can pull together for a sustainable, and informative impact which exclusively excites the consumer due to the structure of the material along with a message of hope for the future of the industry and our Commonwealth.
Daniel Hatton, CEO & Founder of the CNC commented
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/jDI1qv_RBEc
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.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/6s5SerF5FsE
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.
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