Meet Kiran Samra, a fashion promotion graduate from Ravensbourne University London. Kiran’s final year project is called Fuse, a magazine which challenges stereotypes of British Asian women. Tackling issues that British Asian women face, the magazine is composed of interviews, editorials and shared stories from Kiran’s community. Read on to learn more!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
To trust the people around you. Everyone has a talent and working in a team really exposes people’s creative side, which can lead to a magical final product.
Tell us about your current projects and work, what have you been working on?
I recently completed my final project, Fuse, a bi-annual publication challenging the stereotypes of British Asian women today — specifically South and West Asian. As well as providing stylistic documentary and editorial imagery to tackle the current stereotypical representation, Fuse aims to create a platform for women who face issues every day within Asian communities in the UK (such as abuse, ‘honour’ and LGBTQ+) through interviews and shared stories. Each issue focuses on a different demographic, the first issue represents British Indian women, the next may be British Iranians etc.
What form does your final project take?
Fuse is a publication that has been brought to life from two specific gaps in the market - the lack of representation of British Asian women in the media, and the lack of awareness of everyday issues women face within British Asian communities. This type of publication is not mainstream, it is something that is catered to a not so 'obvious market' and it will open up conversations on unspoken issues that must be acknowledged.
Fuse is not your traditional magazine, it comes in the form of an A4 cardboard box containing four zines, one poster and a set of stickers - acting a collectable piece. Zine 1 - Conversations with various survivors on topics of abuse, childhood and sexuality. Zine 2 - A collection of photography and art with themes of confinement, empowerment and freedom. Zine 3 - A series of documentary photography showcasing British Asian community areas in London, West Midlands and Manchester in a vibrant light, rather than its usual dull appearance. Zine 4 - Illustrations based on the term ‘coconut’, women who identify more with their Western side.
How have you evolved as a young creative while studying / working?
I have grown and gained more confidence throughout my years at university by pushing myself out of my comfort zone and expanding both my technical and creative skills. I have tried things I wasn't comfortable with and have thrown myself in the deep end a couple of times; such as assisting high profile stylists when I myself had very little experience and confidence. Pushing my comfort zones like this allowed me to build my confidence and it's all been so worth it. All of this experience, in my own time outside of university, has given me an insight into what a career in styling would be like. I urge any student who is reading this to take up every big or small opportunity you're given while you're at university, you'll thank yourself later.
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?
Fuse explores topics of diversity, empowerment, and the clashes of East and West. I want people to be left with a strong emotion after reading Fuse. As well as art and photography, it contains some heavy conversations about abuse and honour killings, which serve a purpose and are there to raise awareness. British and Asian as separate cultures are two polar opposites - many British women are used to freedom whereas many Asian women aren't. However, you have this whole new space when the two cultures are put together and form British Asian women.
They're a strong group who don't get a voice in the media. Many of them, including myself, grew up identifying with people they saw on TV or in magazines who are nothing like them because no one of their race was represented positively. Even today, it's very rare you'll see a South Asian woman on the cover of high-end fashion magazines, or see them playing a role in a film where they're not stereotyped with an accent, playing a terrorist or a nerd. People are tired of this and I wanted to address this by showing British Asian women in a normal light, it shouldn't have to be a big deal that a brown woman is in a fashion magazine, it should be normal. So overall, the main topic that Fuse addresses is inclusion.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
I think styling and casting are such important parts of the industry yet needs a lot of work in terms of diversity and inclusion. Stylists often collaborate with casting directors for shows, so they need to speak up and realise that having one black model in a 60 look show or look book is not good enough, it's tokenism. Also, the magazine sector, as stated before it's very rare you'll see a South Asian model in successful Western magazines, considering so many South Asians live and were born and bred in the UK and US.
These magazines readership includes many South Asians, so why not include them? Especially when there are many models out there who fit their 'look'. This is why I love brands such as Supriya Lele and Ahluwalia, they both address their culture in a beautiful way that isn't 'in your face'. They are some of the only ones representing brown girls in the fashion industry right now.
What is your plan for the future?
To keep pushing myself and discovering new skills. I honestly never in a million years thought I would do my FMP relating to my culture as I wasn't raised in a cultural/traditional household, so I've never known much about it and haven't appreciated it. So I'd like to carry on Fuse and work towards a second issue. I'm lucky to have the contacts I gained during university, so I'll be utilising those and continuing fashion assisting as that is the strongest way you can build your way up to becoming a stylist.
I also want to try art direction, there are actually so many things I want to try and I have to keep reminding myself that that is ok! We're still young and this is the age we should be experimenting with what we want to do. In the two years I've assisted I've only ever seen three POC across all the shoots I've worked on, so I'm not used to seeing my people on set. I want to succeed in order to show others that it is possible.