Rethinking Style and Sustainability - Zahan Bharucha

Zahan Bharucha is a sustainability professional and advocate based in South London where he works at the intersection of sustainability, creativity and innovation. Over the last year, he has been working closely with Safia and the Indilisi team as a Strategy and Communications Advisor to help expand our impact and voice in the market.

We asked...

→  Why are men slower to shop with ethical and slow fashion companies? 

Working in sustainability, I often think - are men less environmentally friendly than women? Based on the rooms I'm in it certainly seems there is an 'eco-gender gap'.

I think it comes down to a mix of cultural conditioning, limited options, and how brands are marketed. The ethos of slow fashion requires us to think deeply about how things are made, who made them and the impact they've had - whereas men are often encouraged to see clothing as purely functional.

There is also the issue of availability. Ethical fashion for men is still catching up in terms of variety, fit and style. When the options feel limited or don't reflect your identity, it's easy to default to convenience. But I think that's changing (see Indilisi!)

Young people including men are starting to see clothing as a form of value expression - not just self-expression. They're asking better questions and becoming more curious about the story behind what they wear.

→ What’s your rule on shopping sustainably and why do you shop Indilisi?

I'm not a believer in 'rules' but I think if we break It down: buy less, choose well, and wear often. 

Through my work I often use research from Hot or Cool Institute and was interested to learn about their guidance on purchasing 'no more than 5 new clothes'  to live a 'sufficient' lifestyle.

This rule encourages a focus on buying durable, high-quality items and supplementing purchases with other methods like renting, swapping or mending existing clothes. The goals is not perfection, but mindful consumption.

I shop Indilisi not just because they are beautiful handcrafted pieces that are made to last, but because I believe our clothes should tell a story about who we are and the world we want to shape. It feels good to wear something that aligns with my values, and still lets me express my style. It's not about perfect - it's about progress, and being part of the Indilisi journey has me excited about where the brand is going to go next.

Zahan wears, Wide Leg Trousers in Handwoven Organic Cotton - Black Stripe & Men's Shacket - Black Stripe Stitch

→ What kind of work do you do and why is impact in your job important to you? 

I work in sustainability where my ambition is to disrupt relationships between business, community and the environment to build more equitable and just systems. My role is at the intersection of Sustainability, Creativity and Innovation - designing new products, experiences and ways of working to inspire businesses to go further and faster in their sustainability ambitions.

Impact in my role is important to me as I want to look back and know I used my skills to build something that made life better, not just easier. Today more than ever we need bold ideas, but also deep care - which I try to bring to in my day job, or through the organisations I choose to invest my time in including the Youth Climate Collaborative, Fashion Declares Emergency, the Himalayan Health Initiative and Indilisi.

 →  Who inspires you when the weight of the climate and social crises feels heavy - a poet, author, change-maker, or a phrase that helps you stay grounded?

To escape from the daily blur of headlines, I often turn to Robin Wall Kimmerer for grounded motivation. I love the hope in this quote below which I came across during the pandemic: 

“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”

→  Books you recommend? 

As a contemporary fiction lover some of my favourite reads this year have been

• The Anthropologists (Aysegul Savas): Musings of a young immigrant couple as they navigate everyday moments in an unknown foreign city.
• Evenings and Weekends (Oisin McKenna): Interconnected stories from a rogue's gallery of young people across a weekend in London.

Most of my non-fiction reading is around sustainable fashion, and for those new to the genre I would recommend:

• Consumed (Aja Barber): Connecting the roots of fast fashion to the roots of colonialism, racism and wealth inequality while empowering readers to be mindful consumers.
• Total Ethics Fashion (Emma Hakkanson): Offers a holistic approach to consuming within our means that prioritises life and wellbeing of people, animals and planet over profit.

→  Your favourite indilisi piece and how you style it…

Ok this one is easy, I've been in love with the wide trousers for the last year. The light weight palazzo has been perfect for summer - airy, cool and you feel instantly put together without trying too hard. Perfect with a linen shirt, some slides and sunshine. 

The new autumn-winter pinstripe trousers have the perfect blend of a tailored yet relaxed fit making them versatile. I've worn them with a crisp shirt and loafers for work or with a chunky knit and sneakers for the weekend.

Zahan wears, Wide Leg Trousers in Handwoven Organic Cotton - Black Stripe, The Artist Jacket - Dark Navy & Platzo Trousers - Dark Navy.

"When I wear these pieces, they are living moving proof that sustainability doesn't mean sacrificing style - it means elevating it" - Zahan Bharucha