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Monsoon Blooms
Made responsibly in India, Monsoon Blooms creates textiles in a holistic manner that aim to preserve and support the ancient Indian practice of Ayurvastra, the Ayurvedic method of dyeing natural textile fibres with an array of plants, barks, flowers, roots and herbs that impart medicinal benefits to the wearer.
Following the birth of their first son and an extensive research period investigating organic cotton farming, plant dyeing and responsible manufacturing in India, founders Samantha and Krishna Kamala established Monsoon Blooms.
The footsteps of Monsoon Blooms line of intimates, basics and textile yoga mats can be trailed from ‘farm to front door’ on their online platform, which begins with sourcing Fair Trade Organic Cotton from social organisation and farmer owned supply chain Chetna Organics.
A collaborative organisation with over 8000 farmers in rural areas across India, Chetna Organics is working to reinforce sustainable and organic farming practices through education and social projects that give power back to farmers and their communities.
Processing the organic cotton into fabric, The Rajlakshmi Cotton Mill based in Kolkata works exclusively with Fair Trade and organic cotton, supporting the work of Chetna Organics to improve the livelihood of farmers, rural communities and the environment.
Colour is introduced to the organic cotton at a small dye house not far from where Krishna grew up in Kerala, the Indian state situated on the Malabar Coast. Unlike western medicine that seeks a cure often only when an illness arises, Ayurvedic medicine recognises natures capabilities as a prevention and way of life through thousands of years of wisdom.
Ayurvastra dyes can achieve a range of soft hues by incorporating an abundance of plant sources for a single colour including neem, holy basil, turmeric, lime, rose, sandalwood and saffron. Many of the natural colourants infused within Monsoon Blooms organic cotton are grown in the dye houses own garden and white is achieved through a natural bleach process incorporating aloe vera and soap nut berries. Following the textile dye process locals reuse the infused dye bath water for bathing, immersing in the medicinal plant properties.
In Tamil Nadu the Indian state east of Kerala, Monsoon Blooms garments are manufactured at a small facility guided by Fair Trade practices. Recognising the disconnect between the state declared living wage and the true cost of living, Samantha and Krishna were committed to ensuring their tailors receive a fair wage for their work.
“We asked our tailors what they wanted to earn and we pay it. We didn’t negotiate; we will never negotiate. We pay 315 per cent more than required to pay by law, and we would sooner increase this than use our growing power to bargain.”
Monsoon Blooms entire Indian based value chain is GOTS and FLOCERT certified, with the brand achieving a high-level rating of 5 points by Good On You, the Australian ethical brand rating platform for conscious shoppers.
Not only have they made the conscious decision to eliminate harmful synthetic chemicals but Monsoon Blooms are creating textiles with positive health benefits for the farmers, garment workers and the products end wearer whilst also working to preserve the ancient cultural practices of Ayurvastra for future generations.
Ayurvedic medicine has a long practiced 7000-year history, with the knowledge of infusing textiles with plants and natural properties for health benefits being passed down through generations. Whilst the first synthetic dyes were developed 164 years ago and already negative health and environmental implications are being felt as specific chemicals are banned as research reveals carcinogenic properties.
By choosing natural plant-based dyes over synthetics we can began to reduce the fashion industries social and environmental impact.
Monsoon Blooms also recognises the importance of supporting the ancient wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine in preserving the culture, knowledge and traditional practices for future generations.
Goal 3 – Good health and wellbeing
Ayurveda in Sanskrit stands for ‘The Science of Life’ and forms around the idea of holistic balance within the mind, body and spirit. Ayurvedic medicine addresses good health and wellbeing through prevention foremost, with focus on one’s lifestyle and nutrition being aligned and the absence of toxins such as in textiles by choosing plant based medicinal dye sources.
Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth
Monsoon Blooms products are made along a Fair-Trade certified value chain that supports small farmers and local communities across India. Providing decent pay to all workers was important to Samantha and Krishna as they established Monsoon Blooms, paying their manufacturers above the state declared minimum wage as they believe in “crafters paid to thrive, not survive”.
Goal 15 Life on land
Monsoon Blooms sources Fair Trade Organic Cotton from farmer cooperative Chetna Organics. Farmers are supported in practicing sustainable agricultural methods, such as mixed cropping for soil regeneration, cultivating rain-fed crops and the development of Seed Guardian a project for an open sourced seed system to give power back to farmers and support local communities in pursuing a sustainable livelihood that were previously under a seed monopoly from large companies.
1/ https://www.monsoonblooms.com
2/ https://www.sustainabletextiles.club/ayurvastra-textile-specs
3/ https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2018/01/ethical-fashion-brand-ayurvedic-approach-making-clothes/
4/ https://www.flocert.net
5/ https://www.trustedclothes.com/blog/2018/05/08/why-we-need-to-get-rid-of-azo-dyes/
6/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364715000671
7/ https://www.ayurveda.com/resources/articles/ayurveda-a-brief-introduction-and-guide