There is something about 2015 that spells change! While each year we all make resolutions for the best and also see them evaporate by the month end, this year almost everyone I have met has consciously decided to not make resolutions that are lame, but instead have actually made some drastic changes in their lifestyles – be it new jobs, new careers or even new environments! New Delhi witnessed a whole new Government that was totally unexpected, because of the velocity of its sweep giving political analysts a run for their money, and defying every possible explanation.
This story however is about me, someone who might be known to some of you in the Indian luxury fashion space. Yes, I had spent eight years in the luxury fashion industry by end of December last year. Having survived the seven-year itch, it was really the number eight (which has Karmic references) that got me thinking. What would a professional like me do next? I’ve worked for some of the best luxury brands in the world and, I must confess, I have been really lucky. I met some of the most interesting people and filled a travel diary that would make most people my age turn every shade of green.
Green. It is a very interesting colour you see. Related to expressions of envy and also moods of tranquility. It is also a colour that represents nature and natural living. The more I focused on what green means to me, I realised it’s a colour that is very closely related to luxury in my mind. What is luxury after all? I am often asked this question and each time I think the answer depends upon a current state of mind. Luxury is clearly something that one aspires for – be it an object, environment or even state of mind. One man’s luxury is another’s necessity so it is also extremely variable. But in all, it is something that cannot be easily obtained, so it is elusive.
As I mulled over my thoughts on green, I happily picked up my emerald green Kors Tote, and stepped out into the winter haze, or shall I say smog? Delhi is probably one of the most polluted cities in the world. No wonder we have so many people falling ill at the turn of every season.
ACHOO! Ah, nice welcome from my colleague as I step into our workspace. We are a fashion house, and yes we do have our perks of discounted luxury clothing and accessories, so we are all very well turned out as a rule. But how do we feel good about ourselves when this bug is doing the rounds in office?
Green Tea? Yup, capital idea! I turn the kettle on and pour out my favourite brand of organic green tea. Hmm…just the thought makes me feel better already. As I sip my morning cuppa at the desk, I realize that this tea is making me feel naturally invigourated and psychologically healthy already! I look at the packaging, it says 100% organic certified. Translation – no chemicals or pesticides. How often do we stop and look at what we feed into our precious bodies laden with luxury clothes and accessories? My god! Almost never! Ladies and gentlemen, this was the defining moment in my life.
I’d spent the last eight years as a marketeer for some of the world’s best luxury brands in fashion and now I figured what luxury really ought to be. It does not matter what handbag, watch or shoe you wear unless you are really fit and healthy. Most of us spend our best years chasing these false ego enhancing products that ultimately are not making us happy people. We are stressed and burnt out in most cases by the time we reach our 40s, or if you are really lucky, then 50. So what if we made a lifestyle choice that kept us healthy, fit and faboulous?
It is really quite simple. You are what you eat. How often do we think about what we feed into our bodies unless we are ill? I doubt eating right has that much focus as other objects of desire in our lives. What if we choose to start with ‘Luxury Within’?
And so, to spell it out even more clearly, here are 5 reasons why you should consider going organic:
1. Organic produce is chemical and pesticide free. Clearly you do not want to pump chemical pesticides into your beautiful body, even unwittlingly, when you eat that big luscious mango assuming it’s a healthy fruit.
2. Organic food is fresher since no preservatives are added, hence it tastes better!
3. Organic farming is better for the environment. Organic farming practices reduce pollution (air, water, soil), conserves water, reduces soil erosion, increases soil fertility, and uses less energy. Farming without pesticides is also better for nearby birds and small animals as well as people who live close to or work on farms. So while doing yourself a favour, you are also contributing in a positive manner to the future of your planet.
4. Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed animal byproducts. The use of antibiotics in conventional meat production helps create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. This means that when someone gets sick from these strains they will be less responsive to antibiotic treatment. Not feeding animal byproducts to other animals reduces the risk of mad cow disease. In addition, the animals are given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, both of which help to keep the animals healthy.
5. Organic food is GMO-free. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants or animals whose DNA has been altered in ways that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding, most commonly in order to be resistant to pesticides or produce an insecticide. So overall clearly a very healthy choice!
At the end of the day, it all boils down to a personal choice. A hefty bank balance spent on a bag, or a few extra pennies on food that will really go long way in determining your life.
Roasie Virq Ahluwalia is a marketing and communications professional with more than 15 years of experience. Currently, Roasie is Director Marketing – Canali India. She can also be found sipping apple cider under the stars in a remote forest on a hillside, which is her Organic Farm.
