Suhani Lotlikar
Meet GFF Talent Suhani Lotlikar, a graduate in fashion branding and communication at the Arts University Bournemouth. Suhani’s final project is a magazine called STARE, which aims to connect with and give a voice to south Asian youth through arts and culture. Released in both Hindi and English, Indian-born Suhani wants to create conversations and analyse the shifting culture of south Asian youth by facilitating discussions with the community. Read on to learn more about STARE and Suhani’s plans for the future.
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
I have learnt about making the best of the resources. It is very important to realise the privilege of having access to materials and minds that help you in the process of learning and using then efficiently to experiment and create.
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
The starting point of inspiration for my magazine- STARE was home. It started with my compromise to leave home to be able to create something that belongs in the future of my culture. I realised the evolving potential of the south Asian youth and necessity to create a platform for them to voice their opinions. This required me to travel to the future where there was access to things that would help me create this platform. So I transferred from my university in India only to take back at the beginning of a new gen.
What form will your final project take?
My vision has resulted into 2 main forms: print magazine and digital platform. The print features south Asian artists discussing the social issue chosen as the theme of the issue. The first topic of conversation at STARE is 'The Sexuality Issue'. The website features articles of trending discussions and a panel of discussion on questions asked by the magazine for viewers to share their opinions on. The social media platform has been used to put out submission calls and teasers of people featured in the print issue.
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
I was very keen on printing the magazine in India to maintain the authenticity of the magazine. I have chosen to use newspaper print for the teaser magazine and recycled paper for the print issue from Bora Bazaar, one of the oldest paper market in the city of Mumbai.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
Having gained my knowledge of the working and purpose of a magazine from commercial magazine houses, my idea of STARE was commercialised too. However, over the period of development it evolved more into the collectable and educational magazine that caters to the interest of an evolving society. I understood that to break the rules of publication I had to learn them first.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away? Do explore any topics like diversity, sustainability or politics in your work?
The purpose of my magazine is to give a platform to the south Asian youth to voice their opinions about the evolving culture. In turn the topics covered under the theme 'sexuality' for issue 1 act as conversation starters among the community without hesitation as it is through the forms of art. The magazine promotes social and cultural sustainability by keeping the tradition alive while celebrating contemporary youth culture. I have also chosen to publish the digital copy in both Hindi and English for catering to a wider audience.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
I want to utilise the power of publication/magazines to be able to voice an opinion through socio-cultural lenses. With STARE; I want to be able to feature local artists and creatives, to provide authenticity and relatability to the viewers.
What is your plan once you finish your BA?
My plan is look for an investor for the magazine, return home with the established identity of STARE and publish the next issue in June 2020.