SAYANTI GHOSH IS all about the narrative. She regales her clientele with saris that have a story to tell. The designer believes that the six-yards can be completed only when finished with her Indian art and nature inspired blouses. With heritage artwork as her muse, the designer in her late 20s is reinventing the identity of blouses.
From beautiful embroidery work with blooming flowers to abstract patterns formed by batik technique and intricate kalamkari work to prints of Madhubani art, her blouses are pieces of art. “I want blouses to be worn as a piece of art, not as a part of the cloth,” avers Sayanti, who dreamt of having her own fashion label since her childhood. Her ensemble is replete with beautiful hand embroidery and Indian artwork like kantha, madhubani, phulkari, kalamkari and more. “India is rich in its craftsmanship and it needs more recognition. Whether the kantha workers of Bolpur in Bengal or kalamkari of Andhra Pradesh or madhubani of Bihar, they all are very precious. I love transferring the heritage arts on the canvas of a blouse,” says Sayanti, whose label Sayanti Ghosh Designer Studio will turn four soon.
She recently launched a premium range themed on Bengali wedding. An alumnus of NIFD and NIFT Kolkata and Pearl Academy, Delhi, Sayanti is inspired by nature, mythology, Bengal, colours and more. “Every piece of art is a source of inspiration to me,” quips the designer who loves Batik. She is currently working on natural dyes and light Indian fabrics like linen, khadi, cotton and tussar. “I am concentrating more on eco-friendly methods of dyeing for my future products. It’s not that they are more long-lasting but they are chemical free and have a soothing effect on the eyes and also on the body,” informs Sayanti, who works from her 1,200 sq ft studio in Dunlop. One can expect shades of blue, red, green and yellow, extracted from Indigo, carrot, avocado skin, hibiscus, haritaki (a local fruit), tulsi, haldi and more. “For me, age is just a number. If you love yourself then you can look beautiful at any age. I make blouses for all ages,” offers Sayanti, who is looking forward to exploring more art forms for her next collection.