October 2019 Edition Apparel October 2019 issue | Page 65

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
For contemporary designer collections, Stanzin
looks at summer-wear (dresses and tops) that are
produced with lighter organic fabrics (cotton, silk,
khadi, viscose) sourced from outside Ladakh, with
surface design made from her signature digital-art
prints done at a unit in New Delhi. Winter-wear
at Zilzom comprises jackets, coats, and dresses
with nambu, a traditional fabric woven with yarn
from sheep wool. These jackets boast detailing
such as leather piping and machine embroidery,
along with several motifs and patterns.
Stanzin’s designing journey has not been
without any challenges; she has faced many
ups and downs to put her plan to action. While
Ladakh has ample raw material for winter-wear,
fabrics for summer-wear had to be sourced from
other places, and work for surface design for
all garments and pashmina shawls had to be
outsourced to units and artisans in Delhi. “Ladakh
has basic shops that are stocked with threads,
scissors, and the likes. But for a designer store,
we need much more than that on a daily basis.
Here, it is difficult to find variety; hence, I carry out
most of the sourcing from New Delhi.
In fact, even sourcing fabric for winter-wear
requires a lot of effort. Stanzin sources raw
pashmina—along with yarns, which are hand-
spun from yak wool—from a de-hairing plant in
Leh, has them dyed as per requirements, and
then gets them woven and finished. Pashmina
yarns are dyed with natural components, while
the others are dyed with both natural and
azo-free dyes. “I support the already-existing
weaving units in Ladakh that are run by women
entrepreneurs. They are highly experienced and
“I AIM TO WORK WITH MANY MORE
TEXTILES AND COMBINE THEM
WITH LADAKHI ELEMENTS TO BRING
OUT EXQUISITE, BEAUTIFUL, AND
SOULFUL RESULTS.”
are some of the first few women to have set up
shop there. They also help me in producing the
fabrics I require for my collection.”
FUTURE PLANS
After receiving immense appreciation for her
collection at Lakmé Fashion Week, Stanzin
started being approached by many multi-designer
stores across cities in India. Although she
presently only retails from her own studio in Leh,
she is looking forward to stocking her designs at
other outlets too. As work practically ceases for
six months of the year in Leh because of harsh
winter, Stanzin is looking to create opportunities
to work during these months, and she hopes that
the presence of her label in multi-designer stores
will fulfil this requirement.
Most importantly, she wants to ensure that
whilst expanding her work, she includes more and
more local artisans in her work process, provides
them with a greater source of employment, and
continues to bring the unique culture of Ladakh to
the world through her clothes. “Since India has a
rich crafts heritage, I aim to work with many more
textiles and combine them with Ladakhi elements
to bring out exquisite, beautiful, and soulful
results,” Stanzin concludes.
APPAREL
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October 2019
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