Hansiba Design Consultant Series: Archana

Archana (lastnameunknown.com) is a graduate student at the University of Delaware in the United States. She will be earning her Master of Science degree in Fashion Studies and her thesis focuses on corporate social responsibility and home-workers.

Archana will be designing a collection for Hansiba due out this upcoming holiday season. In this first interview, Archana takes us on a journey to her design process:

What are you working on right now?

This is sort of my design process…I am being a student of chaos. That’s how I design. Depending on the situation.

So what type of situation is this?

For once I have the freedom to design without restrictions.

Are there any particular steps, or you just go with the flow?

I have process…I have never documented or analyzed my process really. Apparently I’ll learn about my design process [now].

You’ve picked out your fabric swatches, what comes next?

Well this is just my preliminary swatch run. I went to the store room and based on where my eyes stopped, I just go by my gut when it comes to design. So if I liked a fabric or the way it felt, I just grabbed it for the swatch run.

What about the books you grabbed from the [onsite] library?

Just in case I need more inspiration [having just visited some of the artisans]. There comes a time in design when you hit a wall…and when that happens I’ll have a book to come back to the point where I need to be.

What inspiration are you drawing from now?

Right now I am waiting for inspiration to hit me. That’s how I design. It has to come. I can’t just force myself to just start sketching stuff.

I see writing notes in your book…

That’s more just the technical aspects of design, not the creative side of it. Its more what I need to know and what my limits are - how far I can push myself with design and the customer. When it comes to design its more my right brain that needs to kick into gear, so I’m waiting for that to happen. I’m not in my familiar surroundings so I’m trying to find my work mode since I’m not at “home” and such.

Do you think that since you’re out of your traditional space, do you think that will help you with your creative side?

Usually it does. The creative side of my design process – all I need is a computer and my tablet, pen. And I have those; I’m just waiting for the inspiration to kick in.

Kakuben Returns Home from Santa Fe Market

Kakuben Babuhai Ahir, pictured left, is an artisan working with the STFC and her hand-woven design was chosen to be presented during the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market 2011.

After picking up Kakuben from the airport in Ahmedabad, we headed to Radhanpur to visit the local STFC office and returned Kakuben to her family following her 2 long weeks away from home.

At the STFC office, Kakuben shared her travel experiences with the other artisans. One of her most challenging experiences abroad was ordering vegetarian options - "it was quite expensive and not a lot", Heena Parikh translated.

The best news, the majority of the product Kakuben brought to Sante Fe Market were sold.

Kakuben talking with the other artisans at the STFC.

Outside the STFC, headed to Kakuben's village. That's me in the middle!

Walking to Kakuben's home

Kakuben's youngest daughter, excited to see her mom...

...then back to normal

Kakuben's eldest daughter, in the back ground, took care of the home while Kakuben was in the States. She helped deliver the birth of a calf while her mom was away!

Kakuben and her daughter's