What Do You Do:Fashion historian, visual director, and archivist
Ethnicity:Indian/South Asian
Tell me about yourself, and what you do:I’ve always loved fashion and I knew from a young age that I wanted to do something that involved both of those things. I can’t sew to save my life so design was definitely out! Visual merchandising offered a way for me to engage with my creative side and learn a lot about the fashion and retail industry. However, fashion is about much more than what you see on the surface. That’s why I decided to take a deeper dive into the historical, cultural, and social contexts for fashion in graduate school. In the last year, I’ve worked with corporate fashion archives, museum collections, and the Special Collections division of the library at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Why did you choose to work in this field?:
Was there a particular incident that ended up confirming your choice in career?:I wouldn’t say there was any one incident that confirmed my choice of career. However, the opportunities I’ve had, moving to New York City, the creative community I’ve been able to tap into, and the chance to go back to school are all directly related to choosing this career.
How do you think that this career has affected your connection to the idea of being “Asian”, and what does that mean to you?:I don’t think about my career in terms of being Asian but in most places I’ve worked, I’ve usually been the only Indian person, if not the only Asian, working in a creative capacity. I think that’s changing. I see increasing numbers of younger Asians working in creative fields like fashion, advertising, and museums, just to name a few.
Who is someone who has inspired you through your journey?:I’ve always been very inspired by my younger sister Ranjani. She’s never been afraid to make a choice and move forward, good or bad, right or wrong. She moved to New York City right after college and just figured things out. It inspired me to eventually make the move myself and really embrace my chosen path.
What is some advice you can offer to young girls who are hoping to be where you are right now?:Deciding on a creative occupation can be a difficult choice. It doesn’t come with a standard career path, something Asian parents really love! However, if that’s what you want to do, stick with it, find the thing that feeds your soul and the rest will fall into place. I think we’re in a time when people will be true multi-hyphenates, doing many different things over the course of their lives. It’s a great time to follow the path less taken!
