Little Shilpa by Shilpa Chavan is so named because designer Shilpa is herself 'very little'. Born and based in Mumbai, India, Shilpa studied science before branching out into a colourful world of play toys and boys otherwise known as the fashion industry. After working as a stylist for ads and mags, she turned her Midas touch to handicrafts and so her label was born from a handful of one-off pieces. She has collaborated with designers including Manish Arora, Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi Mujherjee, Hemant Trevedi, Wendel Rodricks and Malini Ramani in India as well as British labels Boudicca, Unconditional and Javier Salvador.
Little Shilpa’s collections take a vintage thought and
transcends it into a modern product through the usage of varied raw materials.
Her SS14 collection is no exception- each piece is individually handcrafted and
is a one-off, so as not to repeat a single design. Rainbow spiked headpieces,
oversized bows, exaggerated ruffles, delicate lace, gold chains and heavy
embellishment are just some of the incredible features of the collection.
Understated, no. Striking, oh yes.
Little Shilpa combines the past with the present and decadence with
intricacy. The inspiration of Little Shilpa comes from travel and interaction
with various cultures. It is a unique concept that juxtaposes accessories,
pictures, fashion film and fine art.
Shilpa has received much critical acclaim to her work- we’re
sure this collection will only add to her success.
Photography by Jamike Latif, @JamikeLatif