The fashion landscape encompasses a diverse range of elements. From visual storytelling to garnering sustainable clothing, creating new canvases, or transcending typical boundaries, you get the gist of it. The question is, can a fashion canvas encompass all these elements?
A trio of homegrown labels—La Fulia, Rescha, and Kokūn—answers this question with resounding elegance and purpose. These brands emerge not just as labels but as living narratives, encapsulating the essence of quiet luxury and sustainable fashion.
As the sartorial landscape evolves, these labels are working to redefine the narrative, intertwining heritage and modernity.
La Fulia
La Fulia, founded by Vishesh Chopra and named after the quaint town of Phulia in West Bengal. The brand’s core belief lies in its commitment to eco-conscious practices. La Fulia’s upcoming Capsule Winter Collection is inspired by the glamour of the 1970s, and showcases its innovative spirit.
La Fulia blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. The brand maintains a lighter carbon footprint through hand-weaving and hand-screen printing techniques that align with global sustainable fashion trends.
La Fulia’s designs are rooted in the essence of authenticity and feature sustainable materials like silk, cotton, linen, and wool. These fabrics serve as canvases for intricate Indian-inspired prints, solid shades, and floral motifs, creating evergreen ensembles that refresh your wardrobe.
From tiered linen dresses to sensuous bias-cut pieces celebrating simplicity, La Fulia epitomises a perfect balance between traditional charm and modern-day relevance. Each outfit reflects the brand’s dedication to reimagining age-old techniques in a present-day context.
Rescha
Rescha, born from Charlotte Chowdhury’s longing to embrace her French and Indian heritage, intricately weaves a narrative of unity between the two nations. This brand celebrates the profound love for textiles, catering to those captivated by the alchemy of fabrics and threadwork. Their upcoming collection Deux/Do bridges the gap between France and India, and delves into the realm of traditional men’s clothing, promising innovation and a seamless fusion of cultures that will be showcased in Paris in November ’23.
Inspired by Charlotte’s mixed origins, Rescha’s designs capture the tension of dual identity through a harmonious play of colours, textures, and fabrics. Rescha meticulously selects deadstock and sustainable fibres, symbolized by the brand’s name ‘Resha’, meaning yarn in Hindi.
From her Indian origins, she inherited her love for colours and shiny elements. Her French origins inspired her taste for structured shapes. As an alumnus of Central Saint Martins, Charlotte states that her experiences there played a pivotal role in shaping a unique aesthetic, where French and Indian crafts meet hand-in-hand in perfect synergy.
She says, “My way of working consists of finding inspiration in French and Indian cultures, engaging with everyday people, and trying to transmit their stories through discussions and collaborations.”
Kokūn India
At the heart of Kokūn’s ethos lies a profound commitment to slow and mindful practices, emphasising the revival of traditional textile craftsmanship and natural dyeing. Ethical sourcing forms the foundation of their approach, prioritising plant-based fabrics directly from artisans in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kutch, and Tamil Nadu.
Their dedication to sustainability shines through the use of natural dyes derived from Indigo, Sappanwood, Tesu flowers, Madder roots, Neem leaves, and hibiscus, ensuring textiles that are not only eco-friendly but also possess antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
Kokūn emphasises skill development and exclusivity. Empowering rural women through natural dye training, they enable these artisans to create one-of-a-kind, hand-coloured textiles. Their design philosophy revolves around upcycling and made-to-order concepts, reducing environmental impact significantly. Each piece utilises deadstock and leftover fabrics, contributing to the promotion of circular fashion.
“Growing up, when I discovered Wabi-sabi philosophy, I felt at home with my thoughts, which, otherwise just unusual ideas, now found a meaning. It helped me to understand my idea of beauty and translate it into some kind of tangible form.” Their commitment to crafting unique pieces, combined with their innovative and sustainable techniques, sets Kokūn apart as a beacon of mindful fashion in this fast-paced fashion industry.
By amalgamating urbanity and comfort and showcasing the quality of intercultural heritage in fashion while championing slow, mindful fashion, these brands are taking the offbeat path while staying true to their ethos.
Also read, 7 Upcoming Homegrown Labels On Our Radar
