About Me
India, Fashion Communications Graduate from Heriot-Watt University
I have always been intrigued by society's need to categorise identity, as a multiracial individual I have often felt pressured to choose one side of my identity over the other in different social settings. Through research I realised this was a more common experience for multiracial people than I thought. I discuss the notion of being between two things.
Fashion has always been intertwined with social, political, and cultural movements, acting as a reflection of those movements. My work is always grounded by socio-political concepts. Fashion marks social change, my work will always refer to this. I explore the duality of identity via the lens of multiraciality, especially against the backdrop of tense racial discussions within contemporary society. With society’s population becoming increasingly mixed, the fashion industry must encourage positive associations of fluidity in identity whether this is regarding ethnicity or sexuality.
INSPIRATION
I was inspired by Harlem Renaissance, the heritage of diaspora culture and multiracial experience.
My work focuses on conflict in identity created by being between two cultures, races, sexuality, etc. I was heavily inspired by Harlem Renaissance, Black Panther Movement, Marcus Garvey, Dandyism, Spike Lee's Blackkklansman. A common thread in my sources of inspiration is conflict. Through conflict comes this product (multiraciality/complex beings) of unexplored cultural phenomemons. A combination of dystopian notions and imagery with a colourful 70s aesthetic, perfectly embodies colourful identities.
My portfolio was inspired by Skinhead culture, Fetishization throughout history and academic studies, Purity and Religious ideals, Apartheid in South Africa, and the common misconception that multiraciality is just those from Black-White ancestry. All styling, photography, graphic design, everything is done by myself.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Harlem Renaissance, Collage
Family Archival imagery
Fly higher than expectations, Skateboobs Collage
Hybrid Graphics
Vintage Black Glamour
Rebellious Cause, Skateboobs
Graphics commenting on racial identity
hair is a tool of identity, Graphics
In the Harlem Jeans, wearing By.Wuzzy
Class Action, Depicting Dandyism.
Class Action, depicting Dandyism
Portraits of Kelsey Henriques, identity
Monochrome, depicting other groups of multiracials
Fetishization of multiraciality
Interracial Marriage
Interracial Marriage
Self-portrait, Archival Imagery
Urban Vigilante, stereotypes of racial groups
Purity of multiraciality
DETAIL
My project is inspired by my personal experience shown through use of archival imagery.
As this publication derives from my personal experience of multiraciality, it is only appropriate that I include elements of my own identity. Archival imagery is an insight into my own identity, the family that made me part of who I am today. The visual captures of memories and experiences, of two halves becoming one. Additionally due to lockdown restrictions being very uncertain, I was forced to adapt via different mediums of creativity. Relying more heavily on preprepared source material and creating something new out of them, i.e. collage work. I love the notion of creating something new with something old. A sustainable view on creativity. Especially as my publication is the size of my mother and father’s wedding album, another nod to my family history. The inclusion of archival imagery only furthers this element of myself.
Society no longer exists in binaries. It is complex, we are complex beings. I have explored the unexplored space in between. The product of conflict.
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