The Power One

Rina Singh brings together the efforts of many to create a brand that stands out for its commitment to sustainability and traditional textile techniques

How would you describe Eka?

RS: Eka, in Sanskrit, means ‘one’ and echoes the singular effort of many individuals. Eka finds charm in the familiar - pastoral pleasures, a lilting breeze or the warmth of a lifelong friend. This spirit takes shape in soulful clothing that lives on through individual expression. We make our own textiles, favoring the mechanics and raw beauty of natural fibers. They become our canvas upon which every layer deliberately embraces the irregular and gives craft an abstract interpretation.

Building a commercial brand with a unique esthetic that bridges the sensibilities of east and west has been the guiding design outline and our garments are versatile - fluid in shape, evolved in textiles and texture, and seen as essential to timeless wardrobes. Worn as separates or layered, each involves craftsmanship along with extensive development with traditional textile techniques.

Where did it all begin?

RS: I was always going to be a dress maker whether professionally or not, whether qualified to be one or not. In 1997 I applied for fashion design studies to Wigan and Leigh College and got a scholarship to finish my course with a HND diploma in Fashion Design from UK. I presented my final collection at a show in U.K. Studying abroad broadened my horizons in terms of design and made me more perceptive about design language as a whole, beyond boundaries of cultures and traditions. It was there that I learned about fashion: historical costume studies, research, terminology, illustrating, styling and presenting. The UK also brought me closer to home - my interest in textiles and crafts, namely Indian, was revived.