Strategic Context
As Creative Researcher at Suketdhir, a Woolmark Prize-winning luxury house, I synthesized macro-trends and qualitative consumer insight to drive product ideation across 4 seasonal collections, including LEAP — conceptualizing design strategies that drove a 15% increase in pre-orders.
Collection 1: LEAP 0.1
Mediums: Apparel design, surface design, digital printing, illustration, visual storytelling Technique: Digital printing
Overview
LEAP 0.1 is a wearable art collection that visually narrates the intersection of Indian and Japanese cultures during the Tokyo Olympics, set against the backdrop of a global pandemic.
This forever young, playful collection celebrates resplendent youth. The aesthetic combines Indian miniature painting and comic storytelling around the theme of the Olympics: sculpted athletic bodies adorned with jewellery inspired by temple sculptures.
Themes: Olympics · Sports · India · Japan · Excellence · Aspirations · Youth · Comic aesthetics · Indian miniature · Architecture
Research
- Analyzed past Olympic Games to understand the behavior, aspirations, and emotions of athletes
- Studied Indian and Japanese architectural motifs and their symbolic representation
- Explored the psychological and physical dimensions of youth
- Reviewed contemporary silhouettes, emphasizing power dressing
Outcome: Work Featured In
- GQ India: Ishaan Khatter for ‘True Gen-Z’ in the SUKETDHIR Turquoise Silk Libaas
- Harper’s BAZAAR India: Palak Shah in a SUKETDHIR blazer
- Harper’s BAZAAR India: SUKETDHIR Forest Blossom print
Motif Development
Human, animal, plant, and architectural motifs developed in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, including the “Humans Turq” color story of athletes (divers, gymnasts, cyclists, sumo wrestlers, archers), quirky and playful animals, comic-style plants, and architectural structures such as the Baoli (Indian stepwell) and the Red Fort.
Prints
Comic Yardages
The main print of the collection. It depicts scenes from the Olympic Games, with locations ranging from athletes' dorms to their practice grounds. Developed in coral and turquoise color stories.
Comic Yardages
Building the comic-style composition, scene by scene, before it repeats across the yardage.
Comic Yardages
The turquoise colorway of the comic yardage print.
Comic Yardages
The comic yardage print realized on a coral blazer.
Comic Yardages
The comic yardage print realized on a turquoise shirt.
Olympian Print
Athletes take practice more seriously than anyone. After the comic storytelling, I wanted to reflect on the hard work and dedication athletes show in their sports. This print gives a wider view of the work they put into perfecting themselves. Developed in mustard and turquoise.
Olympian Print
The mustard yardage of the Olympian print.
Olympian Print
The turquoise yardage of the Olympian print.
Olympian Print
The Olympian print realized on a mustard ensemble.
Forest Blossom Print
To keep it fresh, a quirky cherry blossom floral print was added to the collection. Known as sakura in Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize spring and renewal, which fits the idea behind this collection.
Forest Blossom Print
Colorway explorations for the Forest Blossom print.
Forest Blossom Print
The Forest Blossom print realized on a green shirt.
LEAP 0.1 Stripes
The brief was to make bold, fresh stripes that matched LEAP's concept and could also be used as lining for the garments.
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Technique: Digital Printing
The collection was digitally printed, a technique of printing on fabric with an inkjet printer, at Vistoso in Noida, India.
Ensembles and Product
Ensembles
The full LEAP 0.1 ensemble lineup.
Ensemble 2
Ensemble 3
Ensemble 4
Ensemble 5
Ensemble 6
Product
Finished LEAP 0.1 product.
Product
A turquoise brocade blazer set from the collection.
Editorial
An editorial shot of the LEAP 0.1 collection.
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Collection 2: LEAP 0.2
Mediums: Apparel design, surface design, block (direct) printing, woodblock printing, visual storytelling Technique: Wood block printing
Overview
A summer casual daywear collection. Inspired by the tranquil yet powerful synergy of India x Japan, it features traditional block printing on breathable fabrics like cotton and khadi.
LEAP 0.2 explores the serene zen of Japanese culture, blending Japanese architectural motifs with subtle Indian elements.
Concept for Wooden Block Print
Architecture binds these collections together. The block print combines the Indian stepwell (Baoli) and a Japanese shrine: the shrine’s elaborate structure complements the geometric lines of the Baoli. A single 8 × 5.6 inch unit repeats as a tessellation.
Block Print Concept
Architecture binds these collections together. The block print combines the Indian stepwell (Baoli) and a Japanese shrine: the shrine's elaborate structure complements the geometric lines of the Baoli.
Block Print Concept
An alternate concept page for the block print.
Block Print Concept
A single 8 × 5.6 inch unit repeats as a tessellation.
Block Print Concept
A comic-style concept sketch for the block print.
Block Print Concept
Detail of the block-printed fabric, showing the torii gate, pagoda, and cyclist motifs woven into the concept.
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Making of the Blocks
All blocks were handcrafted by the artisan Grenendra in Khizrabad village near New Friends Colony, Delhi. Each is a single-color block print design; crafting them all took about 8 days. Printing was done by Rajat ji in the Tughlaqabad village area of Delhi. Block printing is one of the oldest and most widely used printing techniques in India.
Narrative Blocks
- Block 1, The Resting Sumo: a sumo wrestler resting, meditating, and re-energizing in nature, among mango trees and parrots that symbolize the brand
- Block 2, Exploring Japan: the athletes explore Japanese culture at a small street restaurant serving authentic food
- Block 3, The Morning Rides: calm mornings in Japan, when athletes pick up their bikes for a stroll rather than a race
- Block 4, Finding Way Back: an Olympic gymnast who went out exploring tries to find her way back to her lodging
Narrative Blocks
The four narrative blocks together.
Block 1, The Resting Sumo
A sumo wrestler resting, meditating, and re-energizing in nature, among mango trees and parrots that symbolize the brand.
Block 2, Exploring Japan
The athletes explore Japanese culture at a small street restaurant serving authentic food.
Block 2, Exploring Japan
Concept sketch for Block 2.
Block 3, The Morning Rides
Calm mornings in Japan, when athletes pick up their bikes for a stroll rather than a race.
Block 3, The Morning Rides
Concept sketch for Block 3.
Block 4, Finding Way Back
An Olympic gymnast who went out exploring tries to find her way back to her lodging.
Block 4, Finding Way Back
Concept sketch for Block 4.
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Placement, Sampling, and Product
Garments
Garments
Garment 2
Garment 3
Garment 6
Product
Finished LEAP 0.2 product.
Product
Block-printed shirts, ombré dyed.
Product
Block print garment detail.
Product
Block print garment detail.
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