I'd kill for fashion-a satire on consumerism

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We live in a world where representation has replaced originality. In our predominantly consumerist society, we struggle for short-lived, temporary happiness. The desire for material goods has overridden one’s purpose of life. We live isolated lives in lieu of a fulfilling one. Ultimately, happiness is the aim of our existence, the meaning of which has been altered by the intervention of materialism. There is the need to achieve fundamental happiness in life by becoming self-aware and reforming the way we live.

The fast fashion industry fits perfectly with the need for instant gratification in our modern consumerist society. Satiating these desires for many, the consequences of which are generally kept away from the consumer. Fast Fashion is the second most polluting industry after oil. Sadly, the ease of access and the low prices of the products guilt people into going back to it, oblivious of the ugly side of the industry. I aim to make people question their consumerist behavior about the mindless accumulation of material goods using fast fashion as a medium. I aim to highlight the stark contrast between the representation and reality with respect to consumerism in today’s society, shattering illusionary happiness consumers get from them.

This is a series against fast fashion, bringing out the ills of the industry. I worked on discarded garments, and the methods used are screen printing, cyanotype and discharge.

Consumer rush

Something clothy in your fish?

Microfibers from synthetic clothing get released into the oceans with water while washing and enter the food chain of the aquatic life.

Dyeing, dying, dead.

Sarvar building in Rana Plaza, Dhaka housed several fast fashion garment factories, the workers of which were forced to enter on the 24th of April, 2013, despite noticing cracks on the building to meet tight deadlines. The building collapsed, leaving 1134 dead.