After teaching fashion at INFID, Nagpur University for nine years, Shruti Sancheti launched her fashion line—Pinnacle in 2009. Nagpur-based fashion expert believes in unsurpassed legacy of Indian textiles and craftsmanship. Since her debut as a fashion designer, she has come up with collections based on India and likes working with he rich heritage of Indian weaves and embroideries. Sancheti shares more about her brand and future plans.
How did fashion happen to you?
Ever since I was a child, I remember drawing croquis, although fashion was not a very recognized vocation back then, I always wanted to do something with it. After graduating with history honors from Loreto College Kolkata, I pursued an advance diploma in fashion design from JD Institute followed by a diploma in textile from INIFD and diploma in jewellery from JD Institute.
Then, I did a PG Diploma in business management from Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan and an MBA, Marketing from IGNOU. I am teaching fashion from nine years at INIFD as Head of Designing and later joined Lad College Nagpur.
How would you describe Pinnacle?
Pinnacle as a brand believes in ramp to reality and accounts for real women and their flaws. It caters to a woman who is not dictated by trends and believes in timeless clothes and wants to flaunt a bit of her heritage. The soul of the brand is Indian with contemporay styling.
What are your favorite materials to work with and why?
I am from Kolkata, known as the city of art and culture, and as they say you can take a person out of Kolkata but cannot take Kolkata out of the person. I believe in the supreme, unsurpassed legacy of Indian textiles, weaves and crafts and believe in timeless clothes with a focus on restrained opulence and understated luxury.
As a designer, I find it extremely difficult to be inspired by abstract themes and geography, history or society plays a big role in my designs. I am the face of Maharashtra state handloom corporation and I believe in the unique heritage of woven fabrics. We Indians have inherited, the irregularity, the restrained elegance and purity makes woven khadi, silk and blends my perennial favorite. I feel these woven fabrics look magnificent and have tremendous potential.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on couple of big projects which are at the inception stage. Besides this, I am working for the festive season. I am taking infant steps in the world of fashion and want the brand to be visible and provide design solutions globally. As a designer, I also work with many crafts and arts possible and become a force to reckon with.
Give advice to the aspiring fashion designers.
I always stress young designers to follow their instincts and to do something different. Grab all the opportunities as it dances with those who are on the dance floor.
