JOIN USSince her childhood, designer Sayesha Sachdev knew that she wanted to venture into the world of fashion. Under the influence of her mother, herself a part of the industry for over two decades, fashion and style came naturally to Sayesha.
After launching her own design label 'SY:SH-The Design House' in 2015, Sayesha shot to fame due to the use of sustainable fabrics and dyes in her designs and also for her bold and daring collections.
In a conversation, the designer, who recently launched her collaboration with 'The Bombay Attic', gets candid about her work and the non-glamorous side of it.
What made you choose fashion designing as a career?
It is not exactly my primary career. I generally bring out a collection every year and then stick to doing collaborations with various companies. As I've seen my mother work in the fashion industry ever since I was a kid, I have always been drawn towards this field. After working with various designers and spending hours in factories, I eventually decided to launch my own label that focuses primarily on sustainable clothing.
Why sustainable clothing?
As someone who has grown up as a part of the industry, I have seen the not-so-glamorous side, the behind the scenes that most of the world does not get to see. Fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world. This inspired me to bring about a change. My aim was to inspire people, especially the younger generation, to spend wisely and on things that are necessary, as it's not always about the glitz and glamour and wearing the top brands. I also wanted to use my label to appreciate the craftsmanship and the labour of several men and women who spend hours in factories; sustainable clothing is the best way I could do this.
How has your experience in the industry been so far?
Honestly, it has been quite amazing. From what I've experienced, people have been quite open to the concept of sustainable fashion. I have no complaints. Yes, being a young woman in any industry is a challenge but the fashion industry is more welcoming of women when compared to the rest.
Do you plan on going beyond sustainable fashion?
I'm open to the idea. But it is important to me that my work always promotes sustainable and ethical fashion.
What are your future plans for the brand?
My next collection launches in 2018. It is a Spring-Summer collection that will involve fabrics like hemp and natural dyes. My goal with this collection is to make anyone who wears it feel powerful and confident.
What according to you will be the top trends of 2018?
I feel the colour ultraviolet or violet, in general, is going to blow up. Other than that I believe people are going to be way more welcoming of sustainable fashion. We'll be seeing many brands that will embrace sustainable clothing.
Any advice for amateur fashion designers and entrepreneurs?
They need to understand the importance of global perspective, I can't stress this point enough. I believe designers today have such a niche understanding of what they can do, they are afraid to experiment and take risks. It is always important to remember that any idea you have, no matter how absurd it may seem, is always worth taking the risk.