Why Alia Bhatt re-wearing her wedding lehenga sends a powerful message
If you're anything like me, someone who always complains about having nothing to wear when you step out of your house, then welcome to the club. This habit is not only bad, but it also brings with it the fear and aversion to repeating an outfit you've worn before.
This aversion to repeating outfits, in my opinion, is directly proportional to the event we are attending. For instance, it's acceptable to repeat an office outfit, but the unwillingness to repeat your wedding attire or a lehenga you wore at your wedding is even more pronounced.
To put it simply, we Indians, like many others, are steadfast in our belief that re-wearing clothes is a faux pas, especially when it comes to wedding-related attire. If you're wondering how I know this so well, let me tell you that in my 23 years of life, I've attended my fair share of weddings and important functions, and not once have I seen anyone repeat their elaborate outfits – including me, of course (guilty).
I don't know where this urge to avoid repeating outfits comes from. Often, upon reflection, I think it seems to stem from the desire to stay in fashion, be at the forefront of trends, and demonstrate to society that you can afford multiple outfits.
In fact, the more we look deeply, the more we realize that this urge comes from fast fashion trends like the Barbiecore, coastal granddaughter core, mermaid core, and whatnot. Every trend forces us to click that buy now button on our shopping apps. And how can we not give special mention to influencers and celebs who reinforce these trends?
But recently, Alia Bhatt re-wearing her wedding lehenga came up with a special message that she gave to her 80+ million instagram followers, that it is okay to repeat your clothes, especially your wedding dress.
What
In case you missed it, India recently hosted its National Film Awards, and Alia Bhatt claimed the Best Actress Award for her performance in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial "Gangubai Kathiawadi" on Tuesday, October 17.
President Droupadi Murmu presented 69th National Film Awards in New Delhi. She also conferred Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021 on Ms Waheeda Rehman.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 17, 2023
The President said that films are the most effective medium to spread awareness and sensitivity.… pic.twitter.com/jzLz8T4qS6
After her win, the next thing that made quite a statement was her wedding lehenga, which she wore at her wedding.
The ivory-colored Sabyasachi Lehenga was the talk of the town when Alia wore it at her wedding, and now that she has worn it again, it has become even more special. The actress shared the moment on her Instagram.
Alia styled her lehenga differently, with an updo hairstyle and a simple choker around her neck.
She later posted the picture with the caption, "What's special once can be special again. And again". Soon after her post, she not only received praise for her award but for repeating her outfits.
Why is it a big deal?
If you think it is not a big deal, let me tell you why it is. The fashion industry in the world is around a 2.5 trillion dollars industry, and to be specific, India is a 50 billion one.
Now, this 50 billion dollar industry creates a lot of waste, including the one in the environment, sea, and everywhere else.
Let's talk numbers
- According to a 2022 Ellen MacArthur Foundation report1, the fashion industry is responsible for around 10 per cent of global carbon emissions and 20 per cent of global wastewater, and an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste are generated each year, which is expected to increase by almost 60 per cent by 2030 if no action is taken.
- One of the best ways to reduce this waste is to, of course, not buy items from big fancy fast fashion giants like Zara and H&M, but let's be honest, that seems like a far-fetched dream.
- Now, one of the smaller steps that we can take is by repeating our outfits and trying to generate a little less waste.
And who better to influence us to develop this habit than our Bollywood celebs?
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