Fashion designer Arundhathi Bijja of Vizag is one of the rare, new crop of young designers who has showcased her handloom fabrics, produced in Andhra Pradesh, at the International Fashion Week held in Goa recently. What made the audience really appreciate her work was the concept she chose. Understanding the poor state of the handloom weavers who are in dire need of some support, she designed uniforms for schools, colleges, institutes and fl ight attendants using the handloom fabric.
Though there have been many designers coming from Mumbai, Bengaluru and other places showcasing ethnic, western and beach wear in varied styles, Arundhathi was the only designer from Vizag whose work directly impacted weavers.
Pursuing her schooling in West Bengal, Assam, Hyderabad and Vizag, she completed her PG diploma in fashion designing from Queenz Institute of Fashion in 2012. “During my school years, I spent time in Bengal and Assam as my father worked in the Central Armed Police Force, I used to visit villages and rural areas to understand how fabrics were made. The plight of artisans really pushed me to want to help them through my designs and work,” says 28-yearold fashion designer.
While studying Fashion, her teachers used to say that her detailing was near perfect. “Working for Queenz fashion gallery for a year, I had set up my own fi rm Bijja Couture in 2013, where I specialised in using Indian traditional modern art for designer blouses, saris and ethnic wear,” she adds. Next, she is all set to approach school, colleges and a few institutes to showcase her designs.
“There are many designers who work on handloom fabrics for party wear, but my works will be for uniforms so that the weavers will profi t directly for a long time. I know its quite tough to convince people, but it has to be done,” she says. There are hundreds of young upcoming designers opting for fashion designing as a career. Queenz Institute of Fashion started in 2003 with 11 students and has now got 100-150 students passing out every year.
“There is a lot of change in the mindset of the parents now. While it was so hard to convince them to make their ward take up a career like this, now it has become a proud and creative profession that every parent wants his/her child to take up,” says Director of Queenz Institute of Fashion, S Shanu Aravinda.
Reach Out: queenz.in Revising classics Arundhathi’s fi rm ‘Bijja Couture’ includes a blend of Indian tradition and modern art for designer blouses, sarees and ethnic wear for any occasion YOUR LIFE COACH THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016 Making handloom haute again He listens to the cries of animals Wildlife photographer, entrepreneur, nature lover, and animal rescuer — that is Robin Paul in a nutshell, finds Mathew Joy Mathew 6 It was so hard to convince parents to make their ward take up a career like this.
But now it has become a proud and creative profession S Shanu Aravinda Considering the handloom weavers’ poor state, designer Arundhathi Bijja is helping them set up a sustainable approach We strictly adhere to the safety protocols, which include tough shoes and a snake hook for non-venomous snakes and a lot more precaution for venomous snakes Robin Paul Students of Queen Institute of Fashion during a lecture.
The institute was set up in 2003 with 11 students and has now got 100-150 students in vogue Courses offered: Fashion Designing - modules of designing (2 years, 1 year, 6 months) Textile Designing - How to design a fabric (2 years, 1 year, 6 months) Construction of Garments - Customisation of garments in Indian and Western wear (6 months course) 300 Escapades Robin has been bitten twice by snakes, but luckily the snakes were nonvenomous, though he describes the bite as excruciatingly painful Number of snakes Robin has rescued in Chennai till date There are many designers who work on handloom fabrics for party wear, but my works will be for uniforms so that the weavers will be profi ted directly for long time Arundhathi Bijja