Black Hand Embroidered and Embellished Caftan from India, "Arabian Beauty"

"Hello Friends! I am Sandip from Hisar. I am honestly not really sure how or when I got into fashion to begin with. It feels like fashion has always been a big part of my life. Ever since childhood I have always wanted to be in a creative field. In my initial years I learnt this art by visiting fabric weavers, printing mills and dyeing mills in various parts of India. I was really fascinated to see how fabric is printed in different ways from one region to another. Be it a block printing, screen printing, hand printing or stencil printing, every print has its own unique characteristic.

"I went to New York for some months and there I explored fashion. I attended fashion weeks and workshops and this made my passion fiercer, so I started my own venture in India. It is challenging to start on your own, but my passion for my work has always kept me faithful to my plan and not drift from my chosen path. I have always believes in taking the road less traveled.

"Now, I have my own workshop with a team of skilled artisans, who give shape to my imagination and design, creating high quality products. We mostly use natural fibers such as cotton, silks, linen, tensile, bamboo, wool and cashmere. We do not make any fabrics. We obtain them from the local market.

"I love designing and creating new designs. The best thing about my work is that it gives me freedom to experiment with new ideas and techniques. I have a self-acquired knowledge about fashion. I have learnt different aspects of this art over the years by exploring different parts of India and the world.

"At times I find it challenging to communicate my ideas; it is not always easy to put everything on paper.

"I mostly get inspired by Indian history related to arts and crafts. My designs are modern with a classic touch, according to the trends and forecasts. Different people have different fashion sense and styles, so it’s very challenging to create something that will meet the demands of the clients.

"Our work is mostly labor intensive so we contribute to the community by generating employment opportunities and also encourage women to work. I see myself as experimenting with different things and understanding this art more."