The Designers
Dressing comfortably, but being well dressed, has always been important to me. Design came naturally to me too. Having grown up with design around me, with my mother being a designer, the creativity and abilities are probably inborn. As I grew up, I didn’t even realise that I would be able to identify the subtle nuances of design, and now when I look back I realise it’s because I have grown up in an environment where design was the key focus of our lives.
The Label
I always believed that fashion is not only about following trends, but also about being yourself, and keeping in tandem with what is relevant around you. Being comfortable in your own skin as it is a medium to express oneself. Dhi for me was an extension of my thought process. Once I got married and moved to the U.S., I wanted to carry my heritage with me and not keep it locked-up only for special occasions, which led me into creating the Dhi dress — an adaptation of the Indian lehenga. I loved the swish and twirl of the lehenga and could rarely wear it anymore. The Dhi dress was something I could wear on the streets of Boston, and yet feel rooted to my Indian traditions. This is what led me to begin this journey with Dhi. It all stemmed from a tiny, beautiful thought of how to keep my Indian heritage and tradition relevant. The cuts are all inspired by our Indian patterns.
Mirror Me
Stemming from emotions like self-introspection, determination and a keen resolve to overcome the obstacles of these times, with a stoic attitude of hope, Mirror Me, is our latest sustainable collection. It is a sum of all of these emotions, layers and reflections. The collection comprises separates that are conducive to working from home, with relaxed and comfortable fits that have a crisp construction and attention to detail, lending themselves to ‘Above the Keyboard Dressing’ — the new work from home reality.
It resonates with a chic, sophisticated mood of understated luxury. The garments are made in sustainable soft organic cottons — Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and hand-spun Khadi, the historic fabric of India’s movement for independence, which inspires self-reliance and self-motivation! Cut on the principles of zero, wastage the collection inspires responsible living. The colours are bold new neutrals, navy, Quiet Wave Aqua, hints of happy and muted tones. The collection is easy to wear, to care for and easy to pair. It inspires introspection, self-love, the desire to look good yet feel comfortable throughout the day, where work and play now intermingle and go hand in hand.
The Creative Process
My inspirations are derived from everyday things, everyday scenarios. It could be an emotion, a colour. Nature for me is a big healer. It is fascinating and amazing to see the kind of inspirations we are surrounded by — simple things like the formation of the clouds, the fluttering of a butterfly. The spontaneity of inspiration is what fascinates me.
Sustainability
Sustainability is the way forward now, to save our planet in numerous simple ways. We have to become more conscious in the way we consume. Buy less but better quality — timeless pieces for one's wardrobe. Be mindful of what we wear by choosing pure fabrics over synthetics, and just being aware of what we consume and how it affects the environment. Slow, seasonless fashion is the way forward. We need to be gentler on the Earth and these are small steps we can take to preserve and protect the planet.
The Future
The label has remained relevant through the pandemic. Our artisans, karigars, masters and tailors worked together with us, hand in hand, to make this journey memorable yet relevant. We now look forward to making a mark in our adaptation of Indian handmade weaves and fabrics, such as hand-spun khadi, and make them popular. We create collections inspired by simplicity, functionality and elegance. We believe in quality over quantity. Being well yet comfortably dressed is the new norm we propagated at Dhi.