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Tailored to your taste

Upasana Design Studio in Auroville makes clothes that spell style and comfort

PHOTO: T. SINGARAVELOU

A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM At the Upasana Design Studio

It started beneath a tree in October 1997. Sitting in its shade, Uma Prajapathi started designing clothes for the people of Auroville. "We had no money, infrastructure or electricity. We then got a shop, installed a machine and gradually grew to what we are today. Now, with a team of nine designers, we have come a long way," says Uma of the Upasana Design Studio in Auroville.

"Aurovilians inspired us to make clothes. We made them for ordinary people who walk in the red mud and ride cycles. We prefer our clothes to be simple and wearable. Our clothes are now sold all over India and also in Europe. We even get invites to take part in fashion fairs and shows," says Uma.

They are happy when they see people walking in their creations. "It's important to be comfortable in whatever you wear. And that's what our designs are about. We also make it a point to use only hand woven, traditional textiles. We want to represent our culture through our work."

Surrounded by trees and plants, the studio provides a perfect ambience for its team of nine designers to be at their creative best. Besides Uma, the team comprises Meenakshi Dangi, Elizabeth J Kurian, Vimal Bhojraj, Vidhya Lakshmi, Meera, Angijata (from Russia), Han (from Korea) and Manoj Pavithran. "We don't make clothes rather they make us," opines Uma.

Most of the time, the designers work individually but they meet every Saturday and discuss what they have done through the week. If someone comes up with a new design, the rest express their opinion and improve it further. The team also contributes design inputs to social projects, such as the Tsunamika Doll Project. They are now into making shopping bags that will help reduce use of plastic.

Manoj Pavithran, Uma's husband, designs websites and looks after the Auroville Intranet. A student of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Manoj came up with the story of "Tsunamika and Friends", a book being brought out under the Tsunamika project.

Available at the design studio are tops, skirts, trousers, salwar kurtas, caps, scarves and bags for women. Also there are trousers, kurtas and shirts for men.

Uma makes annual trips to different states to draw design inspiration and spot talented weavers to place orders. Therefore, the store boasts of a wide variety of designs.

On her design philosophy, says Uma, "Style is not about looking like a film star, it's about enhancing one's personality and instilling the confidence to put one's best self forward."

DEEPA H RAMAKRISHNAN

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