Designer Abhishek Sharma’s new resort wear 2025 collection, ‘Threads of Tradition on The Sea’, is an ode to the river Ganga.
Abhishek Sharma, Fashion Designer, Founder & Creative Head, Abhishek Sharma Studio’s new collection is an ode to the craft and artistic traditions of the region. “As the river enters Bengal and finally meets the sea, it connects with the cultural heritage of that land, particularly the Kalighat style of painting, which is native to the region. So, the whole collection is designed taking inspiration from Kalighat painting motifs and developing them in a Bengali embroidery technique that is Kantha embroidery and giving it a very modern and elegant touch,” he explains.
The collection is built around cotton-based fabrics. The team has used raw cotton, handloom cotton with a slightly thicker texture, and multiple varieties of voile; some plain, others with self-texture. “The idea was to let the fabrics speak for themselves. Everything is soft and organic and feels great on the skin. At its heart, it is a tribute to Indian craftsmanship. Many of our patterns are zero-waste, like jackets cut in clean rectangles to avoid fabric waste. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us. We’ve tried to embrace that by upcycling old factory fabrics, using leftover voile, and making something fresh out of what already exists. This collection, to me, is where craft, comfort, and conscious design come together with quiet luxury made responsibly,” says Sharma.
Interestingly, the campaign shoot has actor Babil Khan and supermodel and Miss India Universe 2019 Vartika Singh styled in the exclusive pieces of this collection. The team had planned the campaign shoot on a yacht in Mumbai but had to completely reroute and use a different dock. “When we started working on this collection, I wanted the motifs to feel bold and impactful, yet deeply rooted in our culture. That’s why I chose Kalighat art. I’ve always been fascinated by Kalighat painters and their ability to stylise forms so beautifully. Whether it’s animals, human figures, or everyday scenes, there’s something fluid and organic in the way they draw. The lines are soft and harmonious, even when the features are sharp,” says Sharma.
And it was this balance that stayed with him, and he wanted the collection to carry that same energy. At first glance, he wanted the pieces to clearly reflect their Indian origins without needing an explanation. “And to bring that out, we chose Kantha, and what makes it even more special is it is also like a flag bearer for our sustainability, using different layers of fabrics which are pre-used and are upcycled. Together, both came together and created a globally acceptable product,” he explains. A lot of the patterns are zero-waste patterns. The jackets are cut with the armhole in a very rectangular shape, leaving approximately no waste of fabric.
And the charm of this collection is all about breaking the monotony that Indian embroideries and Indian motifs, truly inspired by a traditional background, don’t resonate internationally. “I have tried to give it a very light, airy, resort-wear feel, which one can wear while they are travelling or even for wine and cheese parties. It has a very universal approach to its look,” says Sharma.
The best part is that this collection has its heart in the right place. The team worked with a group of women who stitch from their homes. “We did some R&D, trained them on how the embroidery needed to flow, and then let them work at their own pace. It gave them income and flexibility, and for us, it gave each piece something very real, made with hands, made with care,” says Sharma. Using different layers of fabrics which are pre-used and are upcycled, this collection is an example of how different aspects can come together to create a beautiful and globally acceptable product.
Read the full story that first appeared in The New Indian Express dated Jun 15, 2025 here:
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