Vishwa Sorathia is aware that her label Alter Ego is among the many brands that are attempting to revive traditional crafts and weaves, with an eye on sustainability, easy silhouettes and simplicity. A quick chat with her reveals that she has no qualms about being another drop in this ocean of creative minds with an eco-conscious outlook towards fashion. “We work keeping one thing in mind, and we’re sure all the other eco-conscious brands do the same, and that is to promote sustainability and traditional Indian crafts. We are part of a movement. We don’t want to be different, we want to make a difference. At the end of the day, saving the environment is more important than standing out in a crowd,” she begins.
Started in April 2016, the Vadodara-based label recently launched its Spring Summer Collection, Summer Stripes — a line-up of dresses and tunics in muted shades such as ecru, peach white and black, with a few pieces in indigo and crimson. “Our Summer 2018 collection is all about breathable handwoven khadi cottons sourced from across the country. We wanted to give people simplicity and comfort. We feel that keeping it minimal is the best way to showcase the beauty of handwoven fabrics,” explains Vishwa, adding that the garments also bear detailing such as stripes, pintucks and pleats.
One of the most notable pieces from the collection is the easy yet striking The Forest Walk dress. The jacket dress features an indigo jacket, buttoned at the front and worn over a nude slip for a contrasting effect. The overlay bears white jamdani dots. “All our designs are developed in such a way that people stop and take a look at the weave of the fabric,” shares Vishwa, who is currently working on a festive collection for later this year, with handwoven silks, in addition to a capsule collection with kora cotton.
Rs.3,500 upwards. Available online