In a world where yesterday’s trash becomes tomorrow’s couture, sustainable fashion is sparking a revolution within the fashion industry, paving the way for earth-conscious brands that combine ethics and creativity.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Sridevi Blair, founder of Karuna Dawn. We explore the complexity of sustainability within a fashion label, the inspirations behind the brand, and the commitment to a greener future.
For the future of fashion, Blair’s brand will turn over a new leaf, literally.
Launched in 2021, Karuna Dawn’s creation of vegan bags encouraged compassionate and conscious living. Constructed from organic cotton, up-cycled denim, and plant-based leather, Karuna Dawn partnered with social enterprises and ethical production houses to ensure their products are cruelty-free.
‘Karuna” in Sanskrit means compassion, an action to alleviate suffering. ‘Dawn’ symbolises conscious and compassionate living, with one of their core beliefs being that shared passion “has the power to move mountains”.
I asked what inspired the creation of Karuna Dawn, to which Blair discussed the story of Nazreen Sheikh and the “horrendous” conditions she faced as a result of child labour, describing the story as one that “touched [her] deeply”.
“If this incredible and inspirational woman dared to escape her sweatshop and a forced marriage to start up a fair-trade sewing collective in Nepal – I have no excuse to stay silent.”
I just had to give it a go, she said.
For Karuna Dawn, fashion is more than a label, it is a mission, with Blair describing the brand as an enterprise “dedicated to transforming and uplifting lives and breaking cycles of poverty.”
Blair’s passion for sustainability is the driving force behind Karuna Dawn. I asked what sustainability means to her, to which she said that sustainability is a “journey” that is not about perfection, but constant improvement.
“For our brand, sustainability is about making conscious choices at every step of our process to minimise environmental impact and maximise positive social outcomes”, she said.
As the fashion industry moves towards ethics and sustainability and distances itself from fast fashion, Karuna Dawn takes advantage of the new era. She turns waste into innovative, up-cycled products.
“Our approach to production is overarching, recognising that a sustainable future has to consider workers' conditions, fairness of deals with suppliers, impacts to communities, the environment and biodiversity,” she said.
Blair confessed that one of her biggest challenges when starting Karuna Dawn was her self-doubt but overcame this by letting go of other people’s opinions and focusing on what the next step for her was.
When asked what she hopes to see from consumers sustainability-wise, she believes that a stronger response is needed from consumers towards ethical products. “Consumers aren’t following through on their intentions” to shop sustainably she said
I think consumers don’t have enough information or are overwhelmed by multiple, at times conflicting sources of information. Not to mention the rampant ‘Greenwashing’ which is impacting trust issues on claims made by the brand.
And what does she hope to see from brands to close the gap? One simple principle.
Trust.
“The future of fashion is sustainable, and I’d love to see from brands increased transparency where every link in the supply chain needs to be transparent and ethical. This is the only way to build conscious fashion and win the hearts and minds of consumers”, she said.
With the heart of Karuna Dawn’s mission in mind, I asked what Blair hopes to achieve from her brand. She admitted that she purely hopes to make a difference in people’s lives.
“Karuna Dawn is our vehicle to provide this opportunity and support and to create social impact, social change and forward social inclusion”, she said.
Within a mass-produced and wasteful fashion industry, Karuna Dawn introduces us to an era where fashion meets foresight. Blair’s journey is a reminder that every purchase we make has an impact on our planet.
It’s about embracing slow fashion, cherishing quality over quantity, and finding joy in the longevity of well-crafted garments.
This isn’t just fashion, it’s fashion with a conscience.
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