Inspired by the book, The Plentitude, Chennai-based designer Madhulika Nandakumar takes cues from manmade eco-systems for her month-old-venture, Anna Sun. Having completed her foundation Studies at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design in France, she started Anna Sun this September. “Through collaborations, I want to encourage a change in the way we consume design. I wanted to find a stage (studio internship) and stay back in Paris, but I knew I had to come back, to do anything worthwhile, for the wealth of handicrafts and skills that we have — something I’d learnt to appreciate more than ever, studying abroad,” says the 26-year-old.
Naïveté scenes
Designer Madhulika is completely in awe of French fashion designers Christophe Lemaire and Nana Aganovich and admits, “I love how they merge utilitarianism with elegance. I have launched my latest collection called Naïve, featuring a mix of pastels and vibrant hues of mustard, ivory, peach, pantone green and blue. The apparel comes in linen, a linen-cotton blend, linen gauze, and cotton.
Organic cut
In an effort to upcycle usable scrap fabric discarded by garment factories on a daily basis, she has designed quilts in collaboration with Tejilicious, a friend’s brand. They use cut-bits and end-bits from leftovers to create patchwork-mosaics and geometric shapes to form large and symmetric patterns.“So far only our quilts, lining for our bags and carry-bags are made from these upcycled fabrics. We aim to reduce the amount of fabric that is just being discarded, and find new ways to put it to use,”
says Madhulika.
Eco-friendly blend
Like Tejilicious, Arture is another brand she has collaborated with. It is a PETA-certified vegan lifestyle accessories brand that makes bags and wallets out of cork.“Here at Anna Sun, we’re very conscious of the footprint we’re leaving behind. Therefore, as part of our bid to produce responsibly, we do not hold ready stocks, and only produce to order, to prevent the ever-present problem of excess,” adds the designer.While their kalamkari block-printing happens in Machili-patanam, the dyeing happens in Pondicherry, while everything else happens in-house for her quilt collection. Apart from apparel you can also find canvas tote bags, pouches, toiletry cases, handprinted cork-covered sketchbooks and patch-work quilts.
`400 upwards. Details: facebook.com/annasun.in/