Apparel April 2019 Apparel May 2019 issue | Page 93

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
drawing the attention of the city to its magnificent
heritage architecture by conceptualising several
path-breaking fashion presentations at the
Royal Opera House, Faramji Kavasji Hall and the
Mumbai University Convocation Hall. As word of
her creative prowess spread, she was also invited
by Milan University in 2003 to share her views on
fashion and cinema.
The force behind Mélange has also committed
herself to the cause of redefining the role and
reach of our national fabric, khadi, and other
Indian textiles. To innovate new threads from
our tradition, while building professional
platforms from which the artisan, artist and
entrepreneur can create together, serves as
the raison d’être for this iconic visionary.
Founder Sangita Kathiwada tells us more in
this exclusive tête-à-tête.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT
YOUR EARLY DAYS—SCHOOLING,
COLLEGE; DID YOU ALWAYS HAVE AN
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN YOU?
I did my schooling from Indore, Madhya Pradesh,
pursued my further studies in Sophia Polytechnic,
Mumbai to study art and design, and graduated
in Mass Communication and Photography. I
believe I have always been an entrepreneur since
the age of 16. Whichever projects I did in school,
I thought of converting that into a bigger project
and not just keep it limited to the school level. I
always felt the need to impact more people at
a larger scale, involving people from the slum
community and converting it in a way where
it could be economically beneficial. Even the
projects that I am currently working on, they are
not just vanity or dream projects; a lot of thought
MÉLANGE IS A 25-YEAR-OLD
BRAND WHICH BEGAN AS MY
DEEP PASSION TO DO SOMETHING
CREATIVE; IT IS WHAT HOLDS
IMPORTANCE AND MEANING TO IT.
process and understanding goes behind how
they would convert into something sustainable
and beneficial to everyone involved.
WHAT VEERED YOU TOWARDS A
CAREER IN DESIGN?
I believe there has been an inherent talent of
design in me. In fact, all of my childhood interests
have been whirling around art, craft, and design,
which led me towards opting for design as
a career.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BRAND
MÉLANGE AND HOW AND WHEN YOU
STARTED IT.
Mélange is a 25-year-old brand which began as
my deep passion to do something creative; it is
what holds importance and meaning to it. The
driving force was to work with the textiles and
weaves of the country and to salute the rich crafts
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