Creativity, craft and the year ahead

Find out how some of the most brilliant minds in fashion are balancing heritage with innovation while keeping an eye on the future.

- JYOTI KUMARI

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN two powerhouses sit down to challenge each other and their own hardbound ideas? A dialogue that sees tradition squaring off against transformation, shaped by individuality and a collective expression. We asked eight trailblazers-designers, models, stylists and photographers to let us peek behind the curtain and discover more about their unique processes. Delali Ayivi and Bhumika Sharma weigh in on the responsibility that imagemakers bear when charged with documenting craft and community. Stylists Daniel Franklin and Tanya Ghavri explore freedom of expression through fashion while Anavila Misra and Yash Patil decode their revivalist approach to textile traditions. Finally, Sheetal Mallar and Subiksha Shivakumar trade insights on the path to a successful-and sustainable-modelling career. Let their free-flowing conversations fuel your creative fire.

Photographers

Delali Ayivi | Bhumika Sharma

MOVING THE CULTURAL NEEDLE

Bhumika Sharma: My love for photography began during my fashion communication studies, but the pandemic shifted my perspective. Stuck at home, I questioned my role in the industry and slowly began to explore documentary and lifestyle photography. I also travelled a lot, especially in India, where each state has a unique culture. These experiences helped me see fashion as a part of life's layers. It's not just about the garment but about the people, the environment and the culture behind it, and that's what I bring to my shoots. I once used a lungi in a fashion shoot, where I paired it with a Prada Madras print for a blend of Indian culture and global fashion. Moments like that keep me inspired.