Padmaja Krishnan

Born in Kolkata, Padmaja Krishnan studied commerce at Kolkata University and fashion design at National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.

Padmaja set up her studio with three ambitions: firstly, to observe and reflect in her designs the relationship between human behaviour and clothing; secondly, to integrate the work of traditionally-skilled artisans with modern design practice; thirdly, to combine sustainability and social responsibility with humour and delight.

At her studio, she creates “non-conformative, quirky and peaceful” clothing, accessories and handcrafted products. She has a couture-handwriting that is unique and beyond the superficially elegant. She is precocious, wicked, and yet, without any heaviness, very serious.

In her design, tradition is deeply respected even as it’s brought into a close dance with the contemporary and the futuristic: a frayed hem left open refers simultaneously to the weaver’s loom in mid-shuttle, to grunge, to an old Vreeland saying 'never explain, never apologize.'