INTERVIEW #168 PUJA MISHRA

Name: Puja Mishra

Occupation: Corporate Sustainable Development Goals Coach, Sustainability Consultant, Slow Fashion Campaigner.

Based in: Mumbai, India

Website: www.nvogue.biz

Instagram: @puja_nvogue

Hi Puja! Welcome to A Sustainable Closet! Can you please tell us more about yourself and your relationship with clothes?

Hello, I'm Puja, an advocate for slow fashion and a passionate sustainability campaigner committed to transforming the fashion industry. With a background in sustainable practices and as a corporate coach, my work centers on promoting mindful consumption, ethical production, and environmental consciousness within the fashion realm. As a slow fashion activist, I strive to raise awareness about the impact of our clothing choices on the planet and advocate for a more sustainable and responsible approach to fashion. My work with global collectives like Remake & the Slow Fashion Movement centres around community outreach, partnership, mobilization and event organisation. My relationship with clothes extends beyond personal style; it's a profound commitment to fostering positive change and promoting a harmonious coexistence between fashion and the environment.

Can you please tell us more about your background and how you started working with slow fashion?  

My professional journey began in corporate training and wardrobe management, where I honed my skills in organization, efficiency, and an acute understanding of individual style. Over time, I realized the profound impact of fast fashion on both personal wardrobes and the environment. This revelation prompted a shift in my focus towards slow and sustainable fashion. Drawing on my corporate training background, I leverage my organizational expertise to educate individuals and corporations on adopting sustainable practices in their wardrobe management. My journey seamlessly connects my past experiences with my current passion, as I advocate for a conscious and responsible approach to fashion that aligns with both personal style and environmental ethics.

Can you tell us more about your work for Remake Our World? And what is Remake Our World all about? 

Before sharing about my work for Remake Our World, let me share about what is it all about. Remake is a global advocacy organisation fighting for climate change and fair wages within the apparel and textile industry. Through yearly campaigns, workshops activation and events, Remake has been able to facilitate the change that the present-day fashion system needs. Some groundbreaking work of Remake has been the launch of the #PayUp campaign after the apparel industry's ruinous decision to refuse payment for completed clothing orders heading into the COVID-19 pandemic. Some ongoing campaigns that Remake is running currently are Nike Wage Theft, the Fabric Act, Bangladesh Minimum Wage, Pakistan Accord and the International Accord which is a binding agreement facilitating groundbreaking workplace health and safety in factories.

As a community organizer of Remake in the South Asian region, my role is integral to fostering positive change, mobilizing community members, and driving impactful initiatives. I focus on community engagement, campaign development, building partnerships, advocacy and education within the ambassador’s community, developing contingency plans and protocols to address community crises or urgent needs and mobilising resources and community support.

You are also a board member of the Slow Fashion Movement, what does the organisation do? 

The Slow Fashion Movement is a global non-profit, head-quartered at the Netherlands. With its presence in 32 countries as local groups we call it, SFM's initiatives are dedicated to promoting sustainable, ethical, and mindful practices within the fashion industry. It's mission is to educate and empower fashion consumers to make environmentally and socially conscious choices. It seeks to counteract the negative environmental and social impacts of fast fashion by advocating for a shift towards a more sustainable and circular fashion economy. The movement encourages responsible consumption, ethical production, and the adoption of environmentally friendly practices throughout the entire fashion supply chain. Through campaigns, education, and collaborative efforts, the Slow Fashion Movement aims to create a more conscious and sustainable future for the fashion industry and its stakeholders. As a board member-operations my role is pivotal in shaping the organization's strategic direction, ensuring effective global coordination, and driving initiatives through annual campaigns - "Slow fashion Season and Know Your...". SFM is a community facing movement and I focus on strategic planning, partnership development, ambassadors program management, industrial relations, operational efficiency, financial oversight, workshop designing and event planning.

And, you're also the ambassador for Conscious Planet, can you please tell us more about that as well?

As an Ambassador of Conscious Planet, I play a crucial role in spreading the organization's message, inspiring positive change, and mobilizing communities. The Save Soil movement initiated by Sadhguru, a yogi, mystic and visionary, was pretty intriguing for me at first. But after joining Conscious Planet as an ambassador, the resources that I received, allowed me to learn the intersectionality of soil, climate change and everything in between. Unfortunately, I have not been able to join them in the physical events lately, but in 2024, I intend to get more active and join the workshops that are absolutely brilliant and very inspiring for a change-maker like me. 

What do you think is needed to make the fashion industry more sustainable?

Creating a more sustainable fashion industry requires a multifaceted approach that addresses various aspects of the production and consumption cycle. According to me, consumer education and behavioural change are very crucial. However, we can not let go of ethical labour practices and supply chain transparency. To reduce fast fashion culture, we need to navigate the present-day fashion system into a circular model. That is only possible when innovation technology and policy regulation work hand in hand. A holistic approach that integrates these elements is necessary to create a fashion industry that prioritizes ethical practices, environmental responsibility, and long-term sustainability.

What would you say to the readers who would love to work with slow fashion, what can they do? 

For those eager to work in the slow fashion movement, there are several meaningful steps one can take to contribute to a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry. To start with self-learning and scaling up my skill-set is what I started with. Next is volunteering and internship programs. It isn't enough to learn and stay informed about the industry trends and best practices or about acquiring skills relevant to sustainable fashion, such as understanding eco-friendly materials, ethical sourcing, and sustainable design principles. Volunteering with sustainable fashion organizations, related non-profits, advocacy organisations or even eco-responsible brands allows one to gain hands-on experience and gives a pragmatic approach to activism and advocacy. Lastly, it’s always very important to educate others. A slow fashion advocate should mobilize and create an avenue of community building through collaboration and a spirit of partnership and allies. Because the journey might feel lonely at times.