Staying silent is out. Fashion activism is in

The excitement is palpable when designers speak of Indian fashion in the year 2020 effectively setting the tone for an entire decade This is going to be a positive year one thats emblematic of luxury thats not necessarily new or onpoint but about appreciating something thats well made intelligent and mindful feels Gaurav Jai Gupta of AkaaroGupta believes that at a time when the political is personal only idiots consume fashion without giving a thought Its possible then to pick up pointers about the political and economic drift of an era by looking at the clothes its people sported We are living in fearful times and clothing can be a voice a uniform of solidarity believes Debarghya Bairagi aka Dev of Dev r NilAnd so the most fiercely debated trends of 2020 wont be defined by hemlines but by the growing exasperation with fast fashion and the need to challenge misogyny where women are visible only if attractive The new way to choose your muse then is not by judging how she looks but what she thinks Rina Singh of Eka says Personally its about designing clothes for believable characters you can relate to whether Zeenat Aabu or Sairatmdashthree sisters I met in the Aru valley of Kashmir or Amrita SherGil an artist and bohemian explorer far ahead of her time or Salma Hayek a pioneering voice in the MeToo movement They provide a reason to be my muse and give my story the character and soul needed to convey the handmade sentiment of my clothesMen on the other hand are also reclaiming equality Men can also be expressive suggests Gaurav Gupta Individuals are already challenging the sartorial agenda by choosing to wear clothes that feel rightmdashand comfortablemdashfor them personally Indian men are looking beyond the four colours and shapes and articulating themselves through clothes that arent picked by their mothers wives and girlfriends It might take 20 years to see Indian men in skirts but arent they already wearing draped kurtas that are otherwise synonymous with the kameezFeminist defiance wont escape jewellery either feels Shaheen Abbas sharing that oversized pieces will be the flavour Its no longer an eitheror choice between individualism and social morality Women are recognising that its far more important to have a strong voice and jewellery is like an armour that allows them to take ownership of this sense of self says the jewellery designerHere they predict what trend you should renounce this year and which ones to embraceRina Singh of Eka womenswearRina SinghLeave a country in turmoil is not interested in the Yash Chopra idea of pretty clothesEmbrace ideas of femininity Its our biggest weapon but we want to add a deliberate quiet and somber social commentary that tells the world who we Indian women are I say fashion is a creative decision every woman makes dailyDebarghya Bairagi of dev r nil PrintsDev and NilLeave animal prints They have run their course Lets face it not everyone can carry them off and it reeks of hypocrisy at a time when we are invested in climate changeLook forward to bold prints and slogan sareesEmbrace prints that resonate with a sentiment of unrest that we until now associated with the 1960s and70s This year is about unapologetic graphic bold prints and slogan motifs Our label for instance has put a series of tongueincheek slogan sarees Agli Baar Tuna Sarkar and Rule of ClawShaheen Abbas of Flowerchild JewelleryGet playful with big and sculptural statement pieces and standalone earrings that confirm sometimes the single life really is more funLeave Minimalist extradelicate pieces Embrace the new take on hoop earrings to oversized and textured rings bracelets chain neckpieces spectacle chains and lanyards Supersize them and dont be afraid to stack em up Im championing the standalone earring trend too Its edgy fun and deeply personal but not in a desperate attentionseeking way Another goto trend will be personalised trinkets our medallion name neckpieces are doing very well And when it comes to precious gemstones you can never go wrong with classic pearlsGaurav Jai Gupta of Akaaro TextilesGaurav Jai GuptaLeave the overemphasis on handlooms Irsquom tired of the revivalism rhetoric Why is Indian fashion understood only through its past I know itrsquos a rich legacy but what about the futureEmbrace sustainable fashionOur SS 2020 references the show BoJack Horseman that is not only known for amazing fashion but also its honest portrayal of living with depressionThis year Akaaro will initiate a new approach in design by creating a community and leading conversations on what it means to be a sustainable handmade clothing label To commit to implementing changes not just externally but internally as well in order to address the environmental impact Textiles and crafts are found across the length and breadth of our country but the question is how do you develop something beyond the familiarGaurav Gupta menswearGaurav GuptaLeave the idea that menswear is categorically utilitydriven Men are daring to explore the larger canvas of styles beyond the essentialsmdashclassic bandhgala sherwani and pintucked shirtsEmbrace menswear thats a mix of the East and West Dial down the rigidity of the classic tux by mixing things up on your lapel or with sculptured shoulders Or then they may have the artistry of embroidery or bold colours Indian men are okay with embroidery but not bling Mixing easy athleisure with the familiarity of Indian textiles and crafts in formal or occasion wear works wellCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates