Three years ago, communication professional Nagashree Shreyas dipped into her mother-in-law's wardrobe of saris to fashion herself an anarkali and a few dresses.
"You could hardly tell that the silhouettes were repurposed saris," says the journalism graduate. "When Iwore them, they were a hit with my friends and I started getting orders."
Nagashree traces her journey in the world of fashion designing in an interview with Chetana Divya Vasudev.
When did you first become interested in fashion designing?
I always wanted to be a designer, but Icome from a traditional family and my father wanted me to become an engineer. So Ijoined BE, dropped out of the course and did my Bachelors in journalism. Ijoined an MNC that Istill work for. But my interest in fashion designing was not fleeting and after Igot married, I did a certification course in the discipline. I'm very petite and find it difficult to get clothes my size, so I started designing my own.
When did you take it up more seriously?
About a year-and-a-half ago, I set up my studio in Hanumanthnagar. I have the work-from-home option, so I take orders when I break for tea. Otherwise, it's mostly early mornings, late evenings and weekends. Orders also come in through my Facebook page Pixie Yard Couture Studio. If it's South Bengaluru, I also offer doorstep service. I hardly get time for myself, but I love what I do, so it's alright.
What kind of saris do you pick up for repurposing?
Anything in good condition, really. Silk saris — Kanjivarams — are great for blazers and dresses. If they are knee-length, you can make two with one sari. Crop tops and shirts made of unused cotton saris look classy. I create dresses with printed and georgette saris as well.
Tell us about your mother-in-law's saris that you first picked out.
So many were lying unused in her wardrobe that I thought, 'Why not use them?' I used one Kanjivaram for an anarkali and another for a cocktail gown. A Mysore silk sari became two knee-length dresses. Most saris were 20 years old.
Can you take us through your creative process?
Repurposing saris is one of my specialities but I design anything that a woman might want. My studio doesn't work like a tailor shop — every piece of clothing that goes out of my studio is perfect. So even if it's a blouse, I sit down for a few good hours with my clients, understanding what they want. Delivering it would take six days. If it's bridal wear, I might require a month.
If you could design for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My mother because she doesn't wear anything Imake, not even a simple blouse. She's very traditional and says she doesn't want to wear my designs.
Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I want to start an online platform where people can get in touch with us with specifics about what cuts they'd like with the fabrics they have and we'll make it for them. I would be a worldwide platform, but I really don't have the time for it now.![]( "Ravishing red: A blazer made out of a raw silk sari.")
Three years ago, communication professional Nagashree Shreyas dipped into her mother-in-law’s wardrobe of saris to fashion herself an anarkali and a few dresses.
"You could hardly tell that the silhouettes were repurposed saris,” says the journalism graduate. "When I wore them, they were a hit with my friends and I started getting orders.”
Nagashree traces her journey in the world of fashion designing in an interview with Chetana Divya Vasudev.
When did you first become interested in fashion designing?
I always wanted to be a designer, but I come from a traditional family and my father wanted me to become an engineer. So I joined BE, dropped out of the course and did my Bachelors in journalism. I joined an MNC that I still work for. But my interest in fashion designing was not fleeting and after I got married, I did a certification course in the discipline. I’m very petite and find it difficult to get clothes my size, so I started designing my own.
When did you take it up more seriously?
About a year-and-a-half ago, I set up my studio in Hanumanthnagar. I have the work-from-home option, so I take orders when I break for tea. Otherwise, it’s mostly early mornings, late evenings and weekends. Orders also come in through my Facebook page Pixie Yard Couture Studio. If it’s South Bengaluru, I also offer doorstep service. I hardly get time for myself, but I love what I do, so it’s alright.
What kind of saris do you pick up for repurposing?
Anything in good condition, really. Silk saris — Kanjivarams — are great for blazers and dresses. If they are knee-length, you can make two with one sari. Crop tops and shirts made of unused cotton saris look classy. I create dresses with printed and georgette saris as well.
Tell us about your mother-in-law’s saris that you first picked out.
So many were lying unused in her wardrobe that I thought, 'Why not use them?’ I used one Kanjivaram for an anarkali and another for a cocktail gown. A Mysore silk sari became two knee-length dresses. Most saris were 20 years old.
Can you take us through your creative process?
Repurposing saris is one of my specialities but I design anything that a woman might want. My studio doesn’t work like a tailor shop — every piece of clothing that goes out of my studio is perfect. So even if it’s a blouse, I sit down for a few good hours with my clients, understanding what they want. Delivering it would take six days. If it’s bridal wear, I might require a month.
If you could design for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My mother because she doesn’t wear anything I make, not even a simple blouse. She’s very traditional and says she doesn’t want to wear my designs.
Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I want to start an online platform where people can get in touch with us with specifics about what cuts they’d like with the fabrics they have and we’ll make it for them. I would be a worldwide platform, but I really don’t have the time for it now.
"You could hardly tell that the silhouettes were repurposed saris," says the journalism graduate. "When Iwore them, they were a hit with my friends and I started getting orders."
Nagashree traces her journey in the world of fashion designing in an interview with Chetana Divya Vasudev.
When did you first become interested in fashion designing?
I always wanted to be a designer, but Icome from a traditional family and my father wanted me to become an engineer. So Ijoined BE, dropped out of the course and did my Bachelors in journalism. Ijoined an MNC that Istill work for. But my interest in fashion designing was not fleeting and after Igot married, I did a certification course in the discipline. I'm very petite and find it difficult to get clothes my size, so I started designing my own.
When did you take it up more seriously?
About a year-and-a-half ago, I set up my studio in Hanumanthnagar. I have the work-from-home option, so I take orders when I break for tea. Otherwise, it's mostly early mornings, late evenings and weekends. Orders also come in through my Facebook page Pixie Yard Couture Studio. If it's South Bengaluru, I also offer doorstep service. I hardly get time for myself, but I love what I do, so it's alright.
What kind of saris do you pick up for repurposing?
Anything in good condition, really. Silk saris — Kanjivarams — are great for blazers and dresses. If they are knee-length, you can make two with one sari. Crop tops and shirts made of unused cotton saris look classy. I create dresses with printed and georgette saris as well.
Tell us about your mother-in-law's saris that you first picked out.
So many were lying unused in her wardrobe that I thought, 'Why not use them?' I used one Kanjivaram for an anarkali and another for a cocktail gown. A Mysore silk sari became two knee-length dresses. Most saris were 20 years old.
Can you take us through your creative process?
Repurposing saris is one of my specialities but I design anything that a woman might want. My studio doesn't work like a tailor shop — every piece of clothing that goes out of my studio is perfect. So even if it's a blouse, I sit down for a few good hours with my clients, understanding what they want. Delivering it would take six days. If it's bridal wear, I might require a month.
If you could design for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My mother because she doesn't wear anything Imake, not even a simple blouse. She's very traditional and says she doesn't want to wear my designs.
Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I want to start an online platform where people can get in touch with us with specifics about what cuts they'd like with the fabrics they have and we'll make it for them. I would be a worldwide platform, but I really don't have the time for it now.
Three years ago, communication professional Nagashree Shreyas dipped into her mother-in-law’s wardrobe of saris to fashion herself an anarkali and a few dresses."You could hardly tell that the silhouettes were repurposed saris,” says the journalism graduate. "When I wore them, they were a hit with my friends and I started getting orders.”
Nagashree traces her journey in the world of fashion designing in an interview with Chetana Divya Vasudev.
When did you first become interested in fashion designing?
I always wanted to be a designer, but I come from a traditional family and my father wanted me to become an engineer. So I joined BE, dropped out of the course and did my Bachelors in journalism. I joined an MNC that I still work for. But my interest in fashion designing was not fleeting and after I got married, I did a certification course in the discipline. I’m very petite and find it difficult to get clothes my size, so I started designing my own.
When did you take it up more seriously?
About a year-and-a-half ago, I set up my studio in Hanumanthnagar. I have the work-from-home option, so I take orders when I break for tea. Otherwise, it’s mostly early mornings, late evenings and weekends. Orders also come in through my Facebook page Pixie Yard Couture Studio. If it’s South Bengaluru, I also offer doorstep service. I hardly get time for myself, but I love what I do, so it’s alright.
What kind of saris do you pick up for repurposing?
Anything in good condition, really. Silk saris — Kanjivarams — are great for blazers and dresses. If they are knee-length, you can make two with one sari. Crop tops and shirts made of unused cotton saris look classy. I create dresses with printed and georgette saris as well.
Tell us about your mother-in-law’s saris that you first picked out.
So many were lying unused in her wardrobe that I thought, 'Why not use them?’ I used one Kanjivaram for an anarkali and another for a cocktail gown. A Mysore silk sari became two knee-length dresses. Most saris were 20 years old.
Can you take us through your creative process?
Repurposing saris is one of my specialities but I design anything that a woman might want. My studio doesn’t work like a tailor shop — every piece of clothing that goes out of my studio is perfect. So even if it’s a blouse, I sit down for a few good hours with my clients, understanding what they want. Delivering it would take six days. If it’s bridal wear, I might require a month.
If you could design for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My mother because she doesn’t wear anything I make, not even a simple blouse. She’s very traditional and says she doesn’t want to wear my designs.
Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I want to start an online platform where people can get in touch with us with specifics about what cuts they’d like with the fabrics they have and we’ll make it for them. I would be a worldwide platform, but I really don’t have the time for it now.