Draping Art

Artist Darshana Shilpi Rouget of Alba Amicorum speaks with Ruman Baig on the amalgamation of art and fashion, and the reinterpretation of her father's historical works

- Ruman Baig

Situated in the heart of historical Belgravia in London, atelier Alba Amicorum is a tasteful studio and shop of wearable art and luxury scarves. Founded and conceptualised by artist, graphic designer, and collector Darshana Shilpi Rouget, the studio took roots in 2020. “Born into an artist family, art has always been a part of my life,” Rouget shares. We deep-dive into her career trajectory and the making of her brainchild.

In 1986, Rouget landed in the Big Apple on a FIT New York special scholarship and, for the next 20 years, continued to call the city her home. But it was in London thereafter where she found her niche. “One day, I literally stretched the canvas, and it folded over—the image looked so different than how it was. It was an interesting way to perceive art, not completely flat, the way it’s generally supposed to be—that’s how I picked scarf as the medium. Because it folds and changes, which forces the viewer to see it in a more intimate, abstract and personal way.”