India’s ancient wisdom meets New York’s latest trend
Ever thought of wearing wellness? New York based fashion designer Isha Nabar sets this new trend with her collection ‘Resonance’. The coming together of old and new results in the birth of genius. The outcome is magical.
It is a well known fact that there is an abundance of untapped wisdom and value in age-old practices in India, especially in the realm of sustainability, wellness and alternative medicine . This treasure chest of knowledge is once again being unlocked, revived and used within the present environment that is riddled with stress and disease.
Isha Nabar, born and raised in India, forms her design ideology of ‘evolved design thinking with ancient ways of making’ based on this belief. Her Indian origin has led to her having a deep appreciation for design, particularly for exquisite textiles and artisanal craftsmanship that have greatly affected her design sensibilities. Influenced by her environment , she has been instilled with a passion for wellness and unconventional approaches to healing. Her style exudes a sense of calm, fluidity and subtle movement and showcases her belief of dressing being experiential, engaging the wearer by immersing all their senses.
Having studied fashion at a world renowned school Parson School of Design in New York, has lent her global exposure, and her work carries forward her unique heritage of handicrafts, aesthetics and passion all in a modern context. This medley of influences is apparent in her work and have inspired her to create her collection ‘Resonance’ whose theme integrates wellness with fashion. The clothes of this collection are based on the unique concept of healing through sound . Her collection has got a lot of attention not only for its attractive aesthetic but this disruptive concept.
It is known that every organ and cell in our body has its own vibrations, and when these vibrations are in tune, they produce the most exquisite symphony imaginable. Disharmony results in discomfort and disease. She explains, “Sound healing practices have the power to induce brain wave patterns that create a state of deep relaxation”.
As a result, she has used sound as the primary inspiration for her collection and included meditative sound-producing mechanisms, as exquisite metal pieces, into the materiality of her clothes. All in an effort to physically channel good energy and support the equilibrium of the body’s energy centres or ‘chakras’. Indulging in exquisite pleating techniques and unique radial silhouettes, each garment has a sense of rhythm and flow that melds peaceful sounds into her visual design. It would be hard to miss the sense of serenity the collection boldly yet artfully puts forth.
As Isha proudly celebrates her heritage, she talks about trusting the power of instinct to discover who she is as a designer , using the most authentic language to express herself through fashion. While she hopes to have to have a global voice, she wants to use a language that is her own. Her work seamlessly brings together two ages, two cultures, and two spaces of fashion and wellness together.
Isha’s name is has gained recognition as her collection is grabbing eyeballs and she has gone on to win AATC Foundation Jasani Textile scholarship and was in the running for UK’s Creative Conscience Award . She has also been working with businesses like Derek Lam, Oscar de la Renta and Tanya Taylor in New York and Vogue and House of Masaba in India.
So watch out for this extremely talented designer who makes it possible to wear wellness, and introduces you to a trendy way to heal !
About ‘Resonance’
‘ *Resonance is a collection that is designed to calm, center and balance the body through the healing powers of sound. In a generation overwhelmed by chaos, turmoil and disruption, she felt there was a need, now more than ever for a contemplative and meditative state of mind. Every single organ and cell in our body has its vibrations which when in harmony creates the most beautiful symphony imaginable. Sound vibrations go deep into our cells and activate their mechanisms, eliminating toxins and fostering physical and emotional well being. Emanating from this, she has used sound as the central thought in her collection, and integrated meditative sound producing mechanisms into the materiality of her garments, attempting to physically channel positive energy and help balance the energy centers in the body. Harmonizing tranquil sounds into her visual aesthetic, each garment has a sense of rhythm and flow, immersing one’s senses in unexpected ways and creating an aura of serenity.’*
