Forest research institute's fashion show ‘Wild Vogue’ to celebrate Bamboo Day

Thrissur: The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) will celebrate World Bamboo Day by organising various workshops, interactive seminars, entrepreneur-leadership sessions and a fashion show at its premises in Peechi on September 18 and 19, said institute officials.

World Bamboo Day is an idea conceived to spread knowledge about bamboo plants, to spread their cultivation and to make bamboo products more popular.

“The two-day event on ‘Green Entrepreneurship: Bamboo-based Industry and Innovative Opportunities’ will be attended by people from key institutions in the country, including the Entrepreneur Development Institute of India (EDII), National Institute of Design (NID), Handicrafts Service Centre, Uravu, ESAF and others in the field of handicraft. The workshop will be organised with the financial assistance of Kerala State Bamboo Mission (K-BIP),” said Dr Syam Viswanath, Director, KSCSTE-KFRI, Peechi.

About 30 people working in the field of bamboo-based handicrafts will participate in the workshop. They will also share their experiences in the workshop and participate in discussions to improve the sector.

Wild Vogue – a fashion show to promote bamboo

As part of Bamboo Day celebrations, organisers will conduct a fashion show titled 'Wild Vogue'. The fashion show revolves around captivating the enhanced collection and drawing inspiration from the mesmerizing beauty of forest ecosystems.

It aims to promote sustainable and ethical fashion practices while showcasing the delicate balance between wild and refining elements. Empowering emerging designers is a key objective, providing a platform to nurture environmentally conscious fashion creators and drive positive change within the industry, according to organisers.

“Apart from the potential of bamboo clothing, if we can promote jewellery, bags and other properties made of bamboo in the fashion sector, it will definitely give a new impetus. The event seeks to set a trend in fashion by showcasing the elegance of nature-inspired fashion, thereby encouraging designers and brands to adopt a nature-centric approach. The show aims to raise awareness and inspire action to protect our natural resources, with a focus on forest conservation, biodiversity preservation and combating deforestation,” said Dr A V Raghu, training coordinator, KSCSTE-KFRI.

The fashion show will comprise three ramps showcasing the ‘Mori Kei’ collection with a focus on forest-inspired elements and nature-inspired clothing.

Besides professional models, students from various schools in Kerala and differently-abled children will participate in the event scheduled on September 18 from 6 pm onwards.