October 2019 Edition Apparel October 2019 issue | страница 63

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
traditional attire such as a goncha, a long, thick
woollen robe that has gathers at the waist, and
phogos, a full-length robe that overlaps on
the right side, to design garments that echo
simple beauty.”
Stanzin’s collection at Lakmé Fashion Week
was inspired by the unique flora, fauna, and
culture of Ladakh. For the surface design of
fabrics, Stanzin employed beautiful motifs
such as apricot blossom and sea buckthorns
and rendered them on cloth by digital printing,
enhancing it all with embroidery. Some of the
garments in the collection feature gathers, hand-
worked in six neat rows at the waist, bringing
about a distinctive traditional design element in a
contemporary outfit. The highlight of the collection
was the bok, a traditional silk-brocade ceremonial
cape that is worn at festivals and weddings.
SHE RETURNED HOME AND
WORKED ON PROJECT LAKSAL,
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO TRAINING
UNEMPLOYED WOMEN ARTISANS
UNDER THE BRAND ‘LOOMS
OF LADAKH’.
“It was a valuable learning experience and a
turning point in my life. During my time there,
I helped the artisans with the branding and
marketing of their products, and learnt how
important it was to work with them and know
about natural fibres—their technical aspects as
well as the fact that they are specific to Ladakh.
At that time, I had not known that the Ladakh
THE GENESIS
‘Beyond the Earth and Sky’ marked Stanzin’s
debut on the national fashion platform; a
significant part of the journey that happened
almost serendipitously. While she was preparing
for her entrance examination for medical school,
she took a chance by applying to National
Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi.
She worked with designer Sonal Verma of Rara
Avis for her graduation project; the experience
moulded her understanding of the Indian fashion
industry to a great extent. After graduating in
2016, she started looking for placements in New
Delhi. While at it, she was asked to take on an
assignment as a designer for a governmental skill-
development project in Leh. Thus, she returned
home and worked on Project Laksal, which is
dedicated to training unemployed women artisans
under the brand ‘Looms of Ladakh’.
APPAREL
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October 2019
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