On the blog today we feature Susha Suresh, Designer & Founder, ADVIKA, Chennai. A post graduate in textile design, Susha started off her first collective as a part of her college project. She progressed her passion into a full fledged slow design label. Let’s find out more about Susha and Advika…
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Advika – is the brainchild of Susha Suresh, a post graduate in textile design, Chennai. I have always been inspired from traditional architecture, history and stories. The idea of narratives through textiles fascinates me the most, and my design ideology reflects the same. The beauty of woven borders and the simplicity of weaves, and pattern has been the key feature that strived me to create a clothing line that resonates rich culture and heritage through colours and prints.
Advika is inspired from the inherent beauty of traditional arts and crafts that evokes a sense of native Indian-ness, embracing the age old technique of hand block printing along with pure and indigenous textiles. The strength of the brand, is the lovely hand printing that is woven into each thread of our clothing with the hours of design process behind the blocks and its translation, bringing out stories – the stories, we choose to convey.
How did you begin Advika and how has it evolved over the years?
Advika evolved in 2012 as a part of my graduation project in college. I worked on a collection of hand-woven and hand block printed saris with co – ordinated blouses. The entire collection was appreciated and well received by my clients, thus seeing the brand kick-off. Advika, evolved slowly by diversifying the line with new product categories like semi stitched blouses, skirts, dupattas and stoles.
From joining hands with weavers, block makers, printers and my tailors my brand focuses on making pieces unique with an eye for colour and prints.
What is your personal favorite pick from your Advika right now? And why?
The personal favourite pick was the project that I had worked with the weavers of Karaikudi, for getting an entire collective of hand-woven saris in various colours of my choice. I will be showcasing this series at the By Hand From The Heart event this September. A handwoven piece of cloth is a soulful connect, much more than a piece of cloth or sari. This is the reason why the current collection is very personal to me.
What are your displaying at the By Hand, From The Heart.
An interesting, exquisite line of saris and blouse fabrics that are straight from the looms and that are handcrafted with an interesting block printed play. My love for colour never ceases.
Your inspirations.
My inspirations have been from the inherent traditional arts and crafts of India. Architecture and its splendor excites me the most to create new wood block concepts and designs. The love for earthy, rustic, true colours have been a strong inspiration always.
Any design story you would like to share.
Meera – my first collective of skirts in bright colours is one among the much accepted design stories that I have told through clothing. The response to my ghera skirts is overwhelming and is infact the first outfit silhouette that I presented as a main collective other than my saris, which are usual.
What is a typical working day, like.
Typical work day, involves planning color schemes, layouts and designs. My tailors put the colours together to get the layout of the sari complete, before we send it out to our printers. And the rest, is magical!! Of course, with lots of music to support!
By Hand From The Heart: MAKERS MARKET – 21st Edition
Date: Friday – Saturday, 8th – 9th September, 2017
Time: 10:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m
Venue: Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park
Address: 132, T.T.K Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600018, Tamil Nadu. India
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