Style & sustainability

SEERAT VIRDI, 27, Designer, Ludhiana BECAUSE

Her first two sustainable designs got her selected to the Lakme Fashion Week X IMG Reliance incubator program in India. Her first sustainable collection took her to the Redress Design Awards, the biggest sustainable design competition held in Hong Kong. Redress has had seven cycles of competitions in the last seven years and she is the first Indian designer to have represented the country at the Redress Design Award platform in Hong Kong.

Also, her brand ‘Miesu’ has come a long way in the last two years.

THE SECRET SAUCE

I continually strive towards being humble, kind and insightful. I feel being a sustainable designer allows me to do that. I’m constantly challenging myself and trying to advance on a personal level and to be the best version of myself, I think that’s what drives me.

What attracted me to design in the first place is that it’s so multifaceted, we can choose to change our expression and still be able to identify ourselves with our work.

Being a designer has allowed me to develop new skills and interact with people that I never could have imagined – and I’ve barely scratched the surface. It’s changed my confidence level and this continues to keep me motivated.

The journey was not easy at all. I had to work extremely hard consistently and give it everything I had. That took a lot of courage and determination. I aim to take it to much greater heights.

THE GOAL NEXT

I am open to new and exciting opportunities but at the same time, I want to use this opportunity to reinvent my brand and work on designing sustainable and fashion-forward clothing.

I also hope to collaborate with other designers/brands on sustainable design projects. I strongly believe that working with other people towards a common goal has a much stronger impact.

I think this it’s a great way to not only teach others about ethical fashion but to spread consumer awareness as well.

MY ROLE MODEL

Imran Amed, Founder of The Business of Fashion. For me, he is the true example of an exceptional entrepreneur whose influence on our glamorized fashion culture is highly essential. Every morning I get an email notification from BOF (his media and technology company) and its the first thing I find myself happily reading every morning.

The articles that he and his team write are intelligent and very insightful on what’s happening in the fashion world. A conversation with him would be invaluable to me.

BY THE WAY

I love to paint and I always carry a journal or my ipad with me. If certain moments are special and I have the time, I sketch them down.

SECOND OPINION

“Seerat Virdi’s works are very impressive. I look forward to meeting with her whenver I am in India.”