Studio Nadiya starts a discussion on body positivity & representation with the launch of their new collection

On a mission to create a range of comfortable sari blouses that went from day to night, Coimbatore-based brand Studio Nadiya found a complementary purpose in body positivity. It was while the designer duo, Anitha Krishnan and Supriya Manokaran (who also runs Makeovers by Supriya), were conceptualising the silhouettes for their range of ready-to-wear tops and scouting for models that they realised representation of different body types was lacking. 

Over the course of the next few weeks, the two began curating a list of 12 women—illustrator Vidya Kumaresan, designer siblings Shruthi Balu and Swathi Lakshmi of the Suruku Pai, women’s counsellor Anupama Kumar Vijayanand among others—who they felt best represented the demographic in the city. “Coimbatore has always been known for its entrepreneurial spirit, especially among its women. However, many times we fail to recognise the faces behind the names. The idea grew from merely being a prêt collection to being a concept that showcased fierce working women of different body types” says Anitha, explaining the concept behind their new line.

Titled Dakini, which translates to liberated or free, the collection is a ready-to-wear range of 12 designs featuring a bell sleeve patterns, a shirt-collared ill-fitting blouse, an overcoat jacket to be worn over the sari, a high neck ruffle blouse and a fitted t-shirt blouse. “Women should wear blouses that enhance their personality and flatter their body type. Consider the flair sleeve blouse, it balances out proportions in case of a heavy torso,” says Supriya. Designed keeping the summer in mind, the collection primarily uses a blue and red palette and features ikat and kalamkari prints on a khadi and jute fabric blend. 

Set to launch their line over the weekend, the designers tell us that the lookbook for Dakini is a product of collaboration with multiple women entrepreneurs from the city, including Akshaya Chandrasekaran, their photographer, The Amethyst Store and Tiruppur-based Studio Virupa. 

Rs 899 onwards.