Slow down on fast fashion & save the environment

Chhavi Goyal started her fashion brand Quila by embracing the vivacious and colourful culture of Goa. It is a line of apparel for free-spirited people. Chhavi Goyal was born and raised in Haryana, Gurugram, and moved to Goa in 2008. 

She is a foodie, a sports enthusiast and an observer persuaded by certain human values, which she sometimes paints onto the canvas. She is a certified yoga trainer and also holds a certificate in food and nutrition.

Her own awareness and the lack of availability of sustainable and organic fabrics inspired Chhavi to get into sustainable clothing with Quila. 

She says, “Growing up consciously as a nature lover, I realised that the destruction fast fashion is causing the environment is beyond our imagination. Even a simple white colour fabric goes through heavy chemical processes and gallons of drinking water are wasted.”

The main theme that Chhavi plans to explore the most with her designs is “Light spirit and free soul”. She says, “I want to work on ideas that freely come to my mind and have them executed. It's just the start of my journey, so I am not restricting myself to any thoughts. I will let the imagination flow.”

At the beginning of the design creation process, many consumers don’t have a clear idea of what they want. That is why creating a successful design development process requires talent.

One must start from nothing and finish with a fully finished design if we are to create a successful, live project that can be modified as time goes on. 

For the talented Chhavi, the process starts with choosing the best fabric available, the one that she would love to work with and then exploring possibilities. She says that the best part of the whole process is to have the final outcome in one’s hand.

When asked about her favourite time of day to create the wonderful trendy designs, she says, “I wind up my daily chores for the day by 6.30 or 7 in the evening. That's the best time for Quila to work on the design processes.” 

Through Quila, Chhavi Goyal aims to create comfortable yet stylish outfits. She confidently says, “Quila designs should make the person wearing it feel confident.” 

She humbly refuses to be called an artist, she says, “I won't tag myself as an artist. I am just being playful with the designs.” She clearly embraces the serious exterior and allows her inner fun self to shine through her clothing fashion brand. 

As Chhavi has just started her journey, it has not been an easy ride. There have been initial hiccups. She says, “The initial procurement of fabrics was really tough as it involved a lot of travelling and knowledge. Also explaining the designs to masters was difficult.”

For Chhavi, fashion is a vague term. She narrates, “According to me whatever you wear must make you feel good and confident from the inside first and then outside. The clothes we wear reflect our personality and narrate stories about us.” 

Before progressing to sustainable clothing, Chhavi was a freelance trainer, guiding kids regarding the environment and waste recycling through workshops, organic farm visits, overnight camps, classes on smoking being injurious to health, seed bombing and music.

If not engaged in fashion, Chhavi sees herself surrounded by nature with a drawing book, exploring her imagination.

Her all-time favourite among fashion designers is Gaurang Shah. He has been for the past 20 years an extraordinary textile expert from Hyderabad and has travelled the nation to revitalise Indian weaving traditions.

Chhavi excitedly says, “He is rooted in his rich heritage and explores that in his patterns, which always excite me. Currently, I am also gushing over Rahul Mishra's sustainable fashion designs.” The first Indian designer to exhibit at Paris Haute Couture Week, Rahul Mishra supports slow fashion by using traditional Indian crafts. 

Chhavi is rooted in the present, and therefore undeterred and focused on her work she marches ahead. She says, “Future is uncertain and so is fashion. So, as of now, I am just focusing on providing the best fabric, which is breathable and skin-friendly with lots of creativity put in by me.”

Encouraging young fashion designers to maintain their individuality and thought process, she says, “Do what your heart and mind say. Keep experimenting!”

Cautiously, she also informs the readers, saying, “Just want to say, slow down on fast fashion or read about the destruction it is causing our future. By saying no to certain things, we can be environmental saviours.”