Five designers who have made their mark in terms of crafting innovative, exciting garments and footwear, and redefining sustainability and authenticity.
Rkive City
Ritwik Khanna’s Rkive City takes on fast fashion via garment-to-garment remapping and a focus on denim. Khanna stresses the longevity, durability and versatility of the material; he manipulates old jeans, office shirts, leather jackets and other post-consumer fabrics to create deconstructed or reconstructed pieces. By repurposing unwanted garments into creative, wearable works of art, Rkive City hopes to spark a dialogue about sustainability, imagination and the dynamic future of fashion; showing that used clothes can be transformed into something beautiful.
AMESH
Amesh Wijesekera’s label is all about mixing Sri Lankan roots, traditional craft, and a real commitment to sustainability. The clothes don’t follow seasons or stick to one gender—they’re fluid, meant for anyone. AMESH uses hand-weaving, knitting, crochet, and leftover fabric from Sri Lanka’s clothing factories, turning what would be waste into unique pieces one won’t find anywhere else.
2112 Saldon
Padma Saldon’s label, 2112 Saldon, brings the nearly forgotten nambu wool from Ladakh back to life. She mixes old-school handspun techniques with fresh ideas and a genuine push for sustainability. Saldon doesn’t stop at wool. She likes to experiment, blending Ladakhi textiles with crafts from other parts of India, like phulkari and ajrakh. The result? Unique collections that feel both familiar and brand new. Through it all, she keeps the focus on real collaboration, caring for the environment, and honoring her roots in Ladakh.
Disobedience
Anita Soundar launched Disobedience back in 2020, blending her chemical engineering background and Milan-trained eye for leather goods into a footwear brand that’s all about doing things differently. She builds shoes with style and comfort, but also with a real commitment to the planet. Disobedience doesn’t chase trends. Instead, every collection digs into lasting design, celebrating the materials and the stories behind them, and one can find everything from steel heels to upcycled fabrics.
Matcha Pret
Jude Braganza runs Matcha Pret, a fashion label that’s all about sustainability, inclusivity, and a dash of artistry. He started the brand right in the middle of the 2021 pandemic, turning old band tees and vintage lace into sharp, gender-neutral clothes. He cares deeply about how his pieces fit and move, always making sure they work for all sorts of bodies. Whether he’s showing at London Fashion Week or dropping a smaller collection, Jude keeps coming back to themes like resilience, defiance, and joy.
Words Platform Desk
Photography AMESH [Tavish Gunasena, Gregor Seifert, Amesh Wijesekera], 2112 Saldon [Avani Rai]
Date 26.12.2025