ABOUT THE DESIGNER

The great Hindustani vocalist Kumar Gandharva used to say “most people sing the full face of a Raag, I always try to sing the profile.” The fascinating thing about Padmaja’s work is that she does the same with textiles and clothes. Whether it’s an item of everyday use like a Jholaa or an elaborate dress, Padmaja defines the profile where most designers would embellish the full face. There is beauty here that combines with mischievous wit and often creates a mysterious narrative. In her design, tradition is deeply respected even as it is brought into a close dance with the contemporary and the futuristic: a frayed hem left open refers simultaneously to the weaver’s loom in mid-shuttle, to grunge, to old Vreeland saying “never explain, never apologize.”

An alumnus from the National Institute of Fashion technology, New Delhi, Padmaja grew up in Kolkata, a city known for its subtle aesthetics and furious creative energy. Stepping into the local khadi shop with her mother to pick fabrics for her frocks, gazing at shop window mannequins to discover Jamdanis, Balucharis and Tangails on her walk back from school, watching the quintessential Bengali draped casually in soft muslins and learning how to sew her own clothes at 17 from a local tailoring school, were her earliest connections with the world of textiles.

After completing her studies in fashion design, and a short stint in a corporate job, she worked as a design consultant for the handicrafts/handloom sector that took her travelling to several remote villages in Eastern India. This grassroot exposure helped finding her true calling in 'slow, handmade clothing'.

Padmaja began her journey as an independent designer with Transit design in 2007, and launched her label Padmaja in 2012 with three ambitions: firstly, to observe the relationship between human behaviour and clothing; secondly, to integrate the work of traditionally skilled artisans with modern design practice; thirdly, to combine sustainability and social responsibility with humour and delight.

Padmaja was one amongst 6 designers from across 5 continents to showcase at the New world design exhibit, London design Festival, 2007. Her work as a textile/fashion artist has been recognised and exhibited in several international galleries and festivals including the Lisbon Biennale, Yokohama quilt festival and the International quilt festival, UK. An India finalist at the 2008 IYFEY entrepreneur search by British Council, she received Quilt 2007, The Best Textile Creation – GRAND PRIX at the Festival of quilts, Birmingham. She currently resides in Mumbai and continues to work on the slow clothing aesthetic from her studio.