CHANDRAJIT ADHIKARI
Coming from a family of artists, writers and musicians Chandrajit Adhikari studied Graphic Design at Parsons School of Design, New York. He went on to join NIFT, Delhi, graduating in 1994 - the same batch that produced some of the finest fashion designers in India.
In 1996, Chandrajit launched the label Azuli by Leong & Adhikari in partnership with his batchmate. The brand’s design philosophy emphasised starkness, balancing meticulously clean lines and playful drapery both stemming from a solid technical base. An evolved approach to garment construction coupled with an eagerness to explore varying textures and colours was signature Azuli.
The label was stocked by some of India’s finest designer stores.
In 2002, Chandrajit moved to Australia and shifted his focus to education. Training and nurturing hopeful young talent has become his passion. He has taught fashion design for over 18 years at RMIT, Melbourne School of Fashion and Kangan Institute. Chandrajit is currently joint director of AYTA Studio of Fashion Arts.
RINI SEAL
Rini Seal graduated from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata 2007 and started her career with BE and Park Avenue women’s wear at Raymond.
In 2009, she launched her own eponymous label, RINISEAL.
Rini’s design aesthetic focuses on simplistic ensembles and silhouettes, emphasising clean cuts and patterns.
With a special fondness for handwoven fabrics and natural fibres, her creations
use an array of materials and intricate detailing. Her twin passions for art and apparel translate onto her garments through hand and machine-embroidered motifs.
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Bengal’s vast handloom and embroidery traditions have been a rich source of inspiration for Rini. In 2018, she was part ofthe Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) Kantha project - a style Rini is particularly interested in and influenced by. The project aimed to bridge the gap between contemporary designers and rural artisans in a bid to create a seamless alliance.
Rini’s collections reimagine traditional Kantha techniques on contemporary silhouettes, bringing together Indian elegance and a free-spiritedness associated with the West. Her designs express an experimental youthfulness, inextricably tied to tradition, yet straining to break all boundaries.
ADHIKARI - SEAL
Our common aesthetic sensibilities have enabled us to join forces and form the signature label ADHIKARI-SEAL. Our approach to design is a combination of style and functionality. The line is European in influence but reflective of a deep Eastern sensibility, and essentially aims to create complementary silhouettes for all sizes.
The fabrics we use are primarily organic, often involving handweaving silk and cotton highlighting the natural textures of the yarn, resulting in unique and special fabrics. There is a great deal of fabric experimentation in terms of using a variety of mediums and tecniques.
The art of Kantha plays a huge role in our story, forming the basis of our proud heritage. Our wish as fashion designers is to produce a sustainable line that is ethical in nature, in terms of both the environment as well as promoting the artisan. Most textiles and surface embellishments in our collections are created by artisans across various NGOs and villages in Bengal. Each collection is eventually a culmination of concept, style, textiles, impeccable tailoring and finish.