The Bamboo lady: Avni Trivedi

Trends like animal prints and leather pants are sought after in the fashion industry. So far, designers like Stella McCartney, Roman Gregory and Peter Ingwersen have drawn attention to environment friendly fashion. Boston-based Avni Trivedi’s collection is mostly about eco-fashion. At the recent Portland Fashion week, her collection themed on The Midsummer Night’s Dream, received rave reviews. Born and brought up in India, Trivedi admits that she is influenced by textiles and custom clothing in India. It was not too late, before the business student realised her talent for designing. “Whether it was for festivals, or events like birthdays, I enjoyed looking for unique fabrics and silhouettes that combined my traditional and western worlds. Indian culture is the biggest influence on my work,” says Trivedi. What to expectWith the growing trend for leather products, Trivedi makes it a point to break the norms of eco-fashion entrepreneurs. “I think society is becoming more aware of the effects of pollution. We meet a lot of consumers all over the globe, who want to be more eco-friendly in their lifestyles,’’ says the music and travel aficionado.Carbon footprintSo what stops people from being more committed to eco-friendly clothing? Trivedi points out that expensive price tags usually puts off customers, “If it was more affordable, people would readily accept it. People should care about what they buy—  and since clothing is a big part of our purchases, it tends to be a significant carbon foot-print that we as humans exert.”Future plansTrivedi is putting together her Fall/Winter 2012 line that incorporates hand-woven cashmere. She explains, “I believe eco-clothing can cover all aspects of one’s lifestyle. From running around for groceries in a comfy bamboo pant, to attending a high fashion event in a beautiful silk dress.”Priced between $100 to $600. Trivedi retails through boutiques in the US and online. Details: avnifashion.com