Exploring Avenues for a Sustainable Fashion Industry

9 - 19 April 2020

“Fashion has power, the power to change lives. The lives of farmers, spinners,

weavers, printers, tailors, designers and many more who have invisibly woven

their souls into what we wear.” (Upasana)

India

Travel with CERES in

Trip Details: Join us on a journey through India exploring fashion through a sustainability lens, a philosophy of design that can be supported indefinitely and carefully considers environmental impact and social responsibility. Immersed in the vibrant culture and traditions of the sub-continent, our focus will be on mutual cross-cultural exchange and experiential learning. The aim of the trip is to re-imagine current notions of fashion and strip it back to what it is in its original form – embedded with tradition, craft, culture and personal expression.

ITINERARY:

Over 10 days we will travel from Kolkata in the north with its hipsters, intellects, sweat shops and slums, to Auroville in the south, the international city dedicated to peace, sustainability and divine consciousness. We will look at both the good and the bad sides of the industry visiting sweat shops, factories, fashion outlets and talking with workers artists and activists. We will discuss workers rights, fashion waste production, women’s empowerment, and farmer suicides. All this whilst exploring the rich and colourful textile traditions of India that date back to the Indus Valley civilisation.

Kolkata Kolkata will be an exploration of mass production and the impact of modern capitalist markets on labour looking at the darker side of the textile industry in terms of sweatshop and production. Here we will also have the opportunity to learn how textiles are supporting women from domestic violence situations through social enterprise.

Auroville In Auroville will be looking at waste initiatives and what the future of fashion could look like. We will get inspired by innovative methods and think about how we can apply these on a world wide scale. It’ll be quite hot in Auroville so just a short few days down there before finishing up.

ACCOMODATION: Accommodation is as far as possible in twin-bedded rooms (sharing with a participant of the same gender). It is in modest, comfortable hotels, guesthouses or guest rooms with our partner organisations. When in villages or small towns on project visits, accommodation can be basic but comfortable.

DATES: To be confirmed for February 2020

COST: $1800 for 10 days. CERES Global is a not for profit social enterprise and the trips run at cost price. This price includes all internal transport, meals, accommodation, ongoing project and partner contributions, facilitator support, administration and project running costs. This price does not include flights to and from India. Participants can expect to spend just a few more rupees on items of a personal nature.

FLIGHTS: Arrive into Kolkata’s International Airport and depart from Chennai’s international airport – arrival and departure dates to be confirmed.

Transport in India: In India, our favourite way to get around is by train and we do this wherever possible when moving between location. When we can’t get a train we will look into busses and flying as a last resort.

VISAS: All trip participants will need to obtain a Tourist Visa for India. https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/Registration

A note before travelling with CERES global:

CERES Global trips are not tours and our facilitators are not tour guides, but facilitators or enablers – working alongside you to achieve insight and understanding of the communities we visit, and to engage

discussion within the group and with community members on social and environmental issues. It is expected that you will show some initiative and make a contribution to the journey, through sharing of your own knowledge and experience, and working within the group to ensure a cohesive and insightful experience is shared by all. Most of all, enjoy this trip and embrace India, there is an incredible energy

within the culture that is warm and welcoming, vibrant and alive! Step out of your comfort zone and into a world like no other - be prepared to walk through a journey you will never forget.

For any questions and for more information contact the CERES Global Team

Email: global@ceres.org.au Phone: (03) 93890183

Web: http://ceres.org.au/global