Celebrating Indian Fashion. Interview With Shivani

by Alexandra Mansilla

Celebrating Indian Fashion. Interview With Shivani

8 Jul 2024

Shivani is an Indian fashion stylist who proudly incorporates elements of her rich South Asian heritage into her work. How did her journey begin? What fears did she face at the start of her career? Which project is she most proud of? Shivani answered all these questions and even solved our stylist tasks (very skillfully!). Now, we definitely know what is cringe to wear and what is okay.

And one more thing: when we first met Shivani, we had a nagging sense of familiarity. Then it hit us: she looks a lot like Zendaya!

— Shivani, what a beautiful name!

— My family practices the Hindu religion. So, we usually tend to name our children after gods or goddesses. So, my parents chose the name of Shiva’s wife for that reason!

— Okay, so you have lived in Dubai for four years, right? Where were you living before that?

— I was born and raised in Mangaluru, it is in the state of Karnataka, in the south of India. Then, at the age of 19, I moved to Singapore to study fashion marketing and branding. Around the same time, my parents moved to Dubai. After my graduation, I moved to Dubai to be with them.

— Why did you choose to study in Singapore?

— To be honest, Singapore was actually my dad's favourite country. But I had always wanted to study in the UK because it is known as a fashion capital. However, I wasn't fond of the cold weather there. Singapore, on the other hand, was closer to home — just three hours away — and it felt more comfortable. I also fell in love with the country when I visited.

— While studying there, did you notice the exceptional creativity of Asian students?

— Oh yes, definitely! The Chinese are remarkably creative, always thinking outside the box, especially in the realm of graphic design. They are among the top people I would rely on for innovative ideas in that field.

— So, Mangaluru, Singapore, Dubai. Where do you feel at home?

— I feel like now I have made Dubai my home, and I don't see myself going back to where I grew up. I just feel like we don't have much in common anymore. Also, I appreciate being in a place with a diverse culture.

As someone who loves learning about different cultures and as a stylist wanting to explore various traditional styles, I found that my hometown didn't allow me much room to experiment creatively. That is why I have embraced Dubai as my home.

— And when you think about your house in Mangaluru, what associations come to your mind?

— I love beaches, its greenery, seafood and culture. There are a lot of pretty beaches around, and if you are a fan of seafood, this is the place to be.

Instagram: @shivanisudhir

— Is any of your parents involved in fashion?

— We are not in fashion, but we come from a creative background. Most of my uncles and my grandfather are architects, and I feel like that is where some of my creativity comes from. But my main inspiration would be my grandma because she loved fashion and jewelry. I am a big fan of jewelry too — I am like a hoarder. I love buying different types of jewelry and accessories.

My grandma was the same. I always saw her styling my aunties for events. She was like an unpaid stylist. For any weddings, people would call her and ask for help with their hair, saree, or to borrow her jewelry. She was one of my main inspirations for my styling journey. She did a lot of sketching and embroidery, and she also taught me how to stitch.

— So, I know that you collect jewelry. Have you ever thought about launching your own jewelry brand?

— Oh, yes, I think about that every day. I have set my timeline for the next five years because I want to learn a lot more about jewelry, especially the manufacturing aspects. I feel like jewelry is something I need to understand in depth. I don't just want to work with gold-plated pieces; I want to go bigger, like working with solid gold and other high-quality materials. I want to educate myself more on manufacturing, and hopefully, in five to seven years, I will have my own brand.

— What jewelry do you collect? How many pieces do you have?

— Oh, a lot, actually. I have a few pieces of jewelry from 10 years ago, some from my mom and others that I have picked up whenever I go out, whether it is at a market or in different cities. I just have to buy a piece — it doesn't have to be expensive. I love collecting them because jewelry never goes out of style. You can always reuse it and wear it again and again.

Instagram: @shivanisudhir

— Do you love traditional ones or modern ones? Or both?

— Yes, I actually lean more towards traditional jewelry, but I also like to mix it up with modern pieces. It shows people that you don't have to stick to just traditional styles — you can mix and match them to create a unique look.

— Once, you wrote on Instagram: “Loving myself wasn't always easy because I never gave myself kindness. I was giving others.” What was it about?

— As a creative, I often find myself criticising my own work and doubting my abilities. When I first came to Dubai, I was incredibly underconfident. Even though I knew how to style people, I didn't feel confident in myself as a stylist. I often took unpaid projects because I felt I wasn't worth the money and was terrified of reaching out to PRs, fearing rejection. This fear of denial would demotivate me, making me hesitant to take action.

However, I had an experience that changed my perspective. I was interning with a stylist, who became a mentor to me. She asked me to reach out to PR contacts for a shoot we were preparing for. This task helped me build confidence as I realised that rejection wasn't as devastating as I had imagined. There were always other opportunities.

Even now, I sometimes doubt myself. For example, I had a workshop last week, and I was so anxious that I didn't go clubbing with my friends. I felt immense pressure not to let them down. But I realised I needed to do it for myself rather than for others.

After the workshop, I received a lot of positive feedback, which boosted my confidence. I realised that isolating myself and worrying wasn't necessary. I never expected myself to lead a workshop in front of 30 people, as I had always shied away from public speaking, preferring to be behind the scenes or in front of the camera as a model. But I wanted to challenge myself and overcome my fears to grow as a person.

I am grateful for my supportive friends who reminded me of my worth. Ultimately, it is essential to recognise your own capabilities. After the workshop, I feel more confident and have a greater appreciation for myself.

The Identity Potluck for Two Odd

— Now, could you please tell us more about the amazing project called “Identity Potluck”?

— So, this is about my friend Akshita. She runs a digital magazine called "Two Odd" and is based in both Berlin and Mumbai. She also specialises in table design. When planning a visit to Dubai, she reached out to my friend Fathima, the model in the shoot. Akshita wanted to work on a theme called "Identity Potluck," where she would interview Fathima about her roots. Fathima is from South India and is Muslim, so the theme focused on Muslim Kerala culture and Fathima's journey of self-identification.

Fathima shared her struggles and how she now relates to her roots back home. This resonated with me because I also feel disconnected from my hometown due to how much both of us have changed over the years. When Akshita told me about the concept, I was really excited. It gave me a chance to experiment with and showcase our culture.

For example, in the first picture, I styled Fatima in a mix of sari and jeans to reflect her cultural side and her modern personality. I also got to experiment with traditional jewelry, making this project very close to home for me.

I enjoyed the shoot a lot, especially because many of my friends came to support us. It was a cute photoshoot, and at the end, Fathima had to eat with her hands, which is a traditional Indian practice. We received a lot of positive feedback and love for the project. It felt great to be seen and appreciated as creatives and as South Asians. This was definitely one of my favourite projects.

Distant Relatives | Stories Of Near

— How could you describe your way of styling?

— So, I am someone who loves layering, and I am a maximalist by nature. I enjoy styling everything — clothing, necklaces, earrings, you name it. For me, the main joy in the styling process comes from the jewelry part because it is my way of expressing myself.

Of course, every project is different, and each client has their own preferences. Sometimes, I have to tone down my styling and go for a more minimal look. But personally, I love layering — it is one of my favourite things to do.

— And do you remember your first big project?

— Oh, yes. I worked with a magazine called Savior flair, collaborating with Gucci for one of their latest collections. It was amazing because there were a lot of influencers involved, many of whom I used to follow back when I was in Singapore. Getting to work with them was like a dream come true.

The styling aspect was incredibly fun to create because it involved a lot of colours and layering. The shoot was enjoyable overall! It was great being around so many talented creators.

This project is definitely one of my biggest and most memorable. It's always going to be special to me. I never imagined I would get the chance to work with Gucci, let alone see and feel their clothes up close.

Instagram: @shivanisudhir

— As someone born and raised in India who celebrates Indian culture, could you tell us which clothes evoke nostalgic feelings for you?

— For me, it is the skirts, especially Pleated skirts and the maxi and midi skirts that are coming back in style. I used to hate them when I was younger because my mom made me wear them, and I thought they were so uncool. I was always into miniskirts back then. But now, I have so many maxis and midis, and I absolutely love them. It is funny how my style has changed.

— Also, are there any things to wear that make you cringe?

— Oh my God! For me, it is definitely skinny pants and any pants that show the ankle for men. I don't know, I just don't like them.

And yeah, another thing is shorts with ankle socks. Personally, I prefer when people wear shorts with long socks. I don't know why; it is just a personal preference.

— Alright, so I have a task for a fashion stylist. Let’s say you are going to… Coachella. What would you wear?

— Well, that is a good question. I would definitely go with a massive cowboy belt. And then maybe the pants with tassels on the sides. I have always wanted to dress up as a cowgirl, you know, with the cowboy hat and everything. I think it would be fun to pair it with something unexpected, like a bikini or something like that.

— Now, SOLE DXB!

— Yeah, definitely something hip-hop-inspired, like baggy denim pants. And I would pair these baggy pants with any basketball jersey. It is not that I am a huge fan of basketball; I just like the style. I would accessorise a lot with chunky jewelry, basically going for a look like Rihanna's.

— And if you are going to Rihanna’s concert?

— I would replicate one of her Iconic outfits because I love her so much.

— Who is your fashion icon? I suppose it is Rihanna!

— My fashion icon is definitely Rihanna. If we are talking Bollywood, it would have to be Kareena Kapoor. Her style in the '90s was something else. Even though fashion has changed a lot since then, her '90s style is something I would still wear today.

I grew up watching a lot of Bollywood movies, so they have had a huge impact on my sense of fashion. Kareena, in particular, has always been a big influence. I remember watching her in the movie "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham." She was an icon, and her outfits in that movie were amazing. I think her style is timeless and will never go out of trend.

— What do you like the most in Indian fashion?

— Apart from jewelry, I love sarees and salwar kameez. Nowadays, they are also called kurtas for daily wear. They are so comfortable and breezy, which is why I always used to wear them. You can breathe easily in them and not feel insecure about any part of your body.

— Are there any projects you have recently been involved in that you would like to share?

— Yes, actually, we collaborated with a brand called Eyewa. Jo [Shivani’s manager and a founder of Notanagency] and I did a shoot together; it was really cool. I have always styled Jo, but we have never modelled together. So, this is a first — the manager and the talent together.

by Alexandra Mansilla