Born post-pandemic, Lafaani is a young circular apparel label aiming to create timeless silhouettes by extracting knowledge from traditional Indian crafts and is deeply rooted in sustainability, circular in its design approach, and inclusive in ideals. By incorporating multifunctionality in most of their designs, they also hope to allow the wearer to be involved in the process of choice and interchangeability. Lafaani co-founders Drishti and Rashmick met while pursuing a postgraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Resources Management. They’ve worked in remote water-stressed Indian villages and on sustainable agricultural and zero-waste projects, a green past that’s sewn into the hems and whispered into the pockets of the responsibly-made contemporary clothing they curate at Lafaani.
Purpose
Lafaani’scuration is an ode to those in the pursuit of sustainability and finding that delicate balance between saving the world & savoring it. Through their creations, they celebrate the craft heritage in all its splendor, drawing inspiration from the amalgamation of traditional techniques and ever-changing Aesthetics. They reckon that sustainability is not a lifestyle choice and hence, incorporate sustainability in their production, consumption, and even post-consumption processes in an earnest sense. Not just limited to the processes, the brand also tries to incorporate the tenets of the slow clothing philosophy in the very design of our clothes so as to maximize functionality and prolong its use. Our fashion choices reflect our times, what we buy and wear communicates our thoughts, values, and beliefs. At Lafaani, they aspire to accentuate consumers’ convictions through their creations.
People
At Lafaani, they endeavor to provide safe and healthy working conditions; fair wages, and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind. They aspire to create meaningful connections with craft communities and co‑create handcrafted products that represent the timeless beauty of Indian craftsmanship. Lafaani has forged a meaningful partnership with grassroots organizations like Karghewale that work with the creators of their textiles: traditional spinning, hand weaving, and hand dyeing communities. Much like them, the brand also believes in the agency of artisans to transcend impediments in traditional value chains. The handcrafted nature of their products gives them the opportunity to work alongside a team consisting of a pattern master who creates the blueprint of the garment, tailors who puzzle together bits of fabric to produce a well-fitted garment, and hand-embroiderers who adorn the garments, one stitch at a time.
Planet
The brand’s design philosophy encompasses four key principles. Firstly, they focus on small-batch production, designing for longevity, and transcending time with enduring silhouettes, meticulous attention to detail, and the use of natural fabrics (made of naturally dyed or undyed indigenous cotton such as Kala cotton or GOTS certified organic cotton) and materials. Each garment is made-to-order and crafted with eco-friendliness in mind, ensuring that even the smallest elements, from buttons to embroidery threads, are 100% biodegradable. Secondly, they embrace upcycling through their Second Life Movement. Every scrap of pre-retail fabric waste is repurposed, contributing to their range of 100% upcycled accessories. This circular approach minimizes waste generation. Thirdly, they prioritize multi-functionality, allowing wearers to engage in the process of choice and interchangeability through simple manipulations in our garments. This enables them to do more with less. Lastly, the brand fosters craft connections through artisanal collaborations.
