“I started in 2014 with two tailors and one helper. Today, we are a team of six with retail in-stores across India. In the past year, we have even begun exporting to Europe. We believe in simple and sustainable design processes in our studio,” says Naushad Ali, founder, Studio Liam, Pondicherry. It is this philosophy and his being rooted in India’s textile heritage, that has seen the young designer steadily garner appreciation from customers and the industry.
Naushad Ali designs garments for men, women and the fluid sex. The apparel retails under his eponymous label which is available at Ogaan (Mumbai), Vayu (New Delhi), Dhora (Jaipur and Mumbai), Amethyst (Chennai), Raintree (Bangalore), Anonym (Hyderabad), Sacha's Shop (Goa) and Pepper House (Kochi).
THE CALL OF TEXTILES
Naushad’s love for textiles began with his father, who was in the textile trade. This allowed Naushad to grow up surrounded by them too. “My learning of textiles from a young age made it natural for me to develop an interest in fashion. However, I did not think of it as a career at the time”. His interest later made him enrol himself to textiles and fashion at NIFT Chennai (2004-2008). He credits the years spent at the institute as an eye-opener and the creator of a platform for him to learn more about textiles and fashion.
During his NIFT internship, Naushad realised that he did not fit into a corporate structure, and preferred to work with small, independent designers. Hence, post graduation, he began working with designers who gave him an insight into their thoughts while helping him shape his own.
SETTING UP STUDIO
This story is from the April 2021 edition of Apparel.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2021 edition of Apparel.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
All About Dressing As You Want
A. Das uncovers the current trend which is all about dressing as you want. Easy, over-sized, baggy fits and unstructured cuts are ruling every wardrobe.
Online Shopping Likely To Reach $1.2 Trillion By 2025
Market Watch
Weaving A Sustainable Future
Brinda Gill talks to Ashita Singhal, awardwinning weaver, designer and social entrepreneur, and founder, Paiwand Studio, who is committed to converting textile waste into new, meaningful textiles.
Summer of 2022
Heer Kothari walks our eager onlookers through the runways of New York, Milan and Paris, exploring the nuance of summer styling for men in 2022
Journeying for the Joth
Brinda Gill drafts the interesting journey of Vinay Narkar, a textile designer and revivalist based in Solapur, spared no effort in the pursuit of joth, one of the lost weaves of Maharashtra, and reviving it.
Go Digital - Get Organised Reshamandi Style!
Heer Kothari explores India’s first and largest market-place, digitising the natural textile supply chain. It is a full stack ecosystem in the form of a super app, starting from farm to fashion.
Erotissch – Stitching differently
Chitra Balasubramaniam explores Erotissch, a brand by women for women, based on the concept of ‘Bed to street wear'.
Colourful Fable
A. DAS interviews Karan Torani to find out the inspiration behind the designs of his label Torani and his thoughts on it being widely welcomed and connected well.
Going #PLUS
Heer Kothari explores the growth of the Plus Size apparel segment in India.
Endorsing Desi Oon
Brinda Gill discovers India’s indigenous wools, locally called Desi Oon, which hold potential for use in the apparel industry