Meet GFF Talent Sai Vigneshwar Rao, a fashion design graduate from Arts University Bournemouth. Sai’s final year project is a collection of six outfits that are inspired by his Indian heritage and experience of living in Britain. Everything from the silhouettes developed by blending traditional Indian garments with tailoring that references military uniforms ties into these two cultures.
“The choice of materials was directly influenced by textiles associated with the British and Indian culture such as cotton, silk, and wool with an aged colonial effect, reminiscent of a crumbling empire showcasing wealth and prosperity,” says Sai. “Fabrics were sourced from both India and the UK, in order to purchase specialised fabrics from each nation, such as wool from the UK and silk from India.” Read more about Sai’s work below!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
The power of building your contacts. I have come to realise how much more a person is able to perform from just getting to know more people and this can range from know models, hairdressers, stylists, photographers and other designers not just in the field of garments, but also accessories and jewellery. Knowing such a wide range of people can help spark a creative discussion and develop any project you are working on.
What was the starting point of inspiration for your final project?
My starting point was to incorporate the two countries close to me, one being the country I am from, India and other being the country I currently live it, the United Kingdom. And this initiated me to look into the period when the British Empire was in India and how they had influenced the contemporary culture. This further led to finding more about my own family during that period and that has helped drive my whole collection 'The British Raj'.
What form does your final project take?
The collection will be an accumulation of six outfits and silhouettes being derived from the traditional garments of native Indian women, where elements of pleating and wrapping are developed, followed by tailored elements drawn from the uniforms of the British soldiers
What materials have you used and how did you source them?
The choice of materials was directly influenced by textiles associated with the British and Indian culture such as cotton, silk, and wool with an aged colonial effect, reminiscent of a crumbling empire showcasing wealth and prosperity. Fabrics we're sourced from both India and the UK, in order to purchase specialised fabrics from each nation, such as wool from the UK and silk from India.
How has it evolved from your initial ideas and what have you learnt along the way?
The collection evolved from being a men and women collection to garment silhouettes talking shape that would accommodate both men and women in many of the outfits. The collection questions gender identity and adopt gender fluidity. This year has been extremely knowledgable from the challenged faced in making complex garments and incorporating technology to pattern cut and 3D render garments to help with garments realisation before making them in reality.
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 message is to embrace our culture. My concept dives into the influence of the British Empire in contemporary India and how it has influenced their way of clothing. And this evolution in culture had resulted in many of the Indian textiles and crafts to be lost to time. Celebrating our culture is essential to preserving our history and identity.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
As we all know sustainability is the hot topic of fashion at the moment, but the current sustainable approaches either lessen the damage already being caused or creating a product only accessible to a niche demographic. I would like to produce fabrics from materials currently disposed of as waste material such as banana trees and bringing such fibres to in the mainstream of the apparel industry.
What is your plan once you finish your BA?
I intend to pursue an MA in International Fashion and Management. This would help be a stepping stone in my pursuits of wanting to develop fabrics derived from industrial waste and implementing them into mainstream clothing.