Born in Poland and grew up in Singapore, Rhea Singh is a contemporary Indian fashion designer currently living in Chicago. Originally a print artist, Rhea found fashion as a way of connecting back to her heritage. n As a designer Rhea heavily focuses on the concept of cultural sustainability, whether it be in the silhouette or the prints she designs, carrying forward details of her heritage is an important element in her work. Each garment that Rhea creates has hidden elements of her Indian heritage, whether it be through the print, the delicate beadwork, or the construction, it’s always hidden in the details of her work. As an Indian designer, Rhea also works very closely with embellishments such as beadwork and embroidery. Her eye for detail and creating texture on top of fabric comes from her heritage. If her garments do not have any beadwork what you may be able to find is the delicate blindstitch to close many of her seams. As a designer, Rhea not only works with shapes around the body but her handwork is shown through all her garments.
Escape, Fake fur, canvas, arcade, satin stretch, glass beads, silk petals, bronze casting, photo by Anaya Engineer
Senior thesis collection
Escape, Canvas, poly wool blend, embroidered patches, brocade, glass beads, silk petals, mirrors, photo by photo by Anaya Engineer
Senior thesis collection
Escape, poly wool blend, poly silk satin, angle skin satin, embroidered patches, satin chording, photo by Anaya Engineer
Senior thesis collection
Escape, Canvas, poly wool blend, embroidered patches, brocade, glass beads, silk petals, mirrors, photo by photo by Anaya Engineer
Senior thesis collection
What Am I?, What Am I?, (2022, What Am I?, silk dupioni, glass beads, mirrors satin chording, mesh, photo by Anaya Engineer)
“What am I” is a collection of three neck accessories that explores all the aesthetics of Rhea’s heritage and the culture that she grew up in. Inspired from traditional Indian womens wear and beading, which is translated through modern day couture fashion, it’s a conversation between the two cultures Rhea comes from. Each piece is carefully handcrafted through inspirations taken from the traditional Indian craftsmanship of embroidery, beading and construction. Traditionally, the way fabrics were beaded and what the beads were made of told not only a story but where you belonged in society and who you were. It was never about aesthetics but a language that didn't use words and came alive in the human body.
What Am I?, What Am I?, (2022, What Am I?, silk dupioni, glass beads, mirrors satin chording, mesh, photo by Anaya Engineer)
What Am I?, What Am I?, (2022, What Am I?, silk dupioni, glass beads, mirrors satin chording, mesh, photo by Anaya Engineer)
What Am I?, What Am I?, (2022, What Am I?, silk dupioni, glass beads, mirrors satin chording, mesh, photo by Anaya Engineer)
The Convertible Sleeves, The Convertible Sleeves, 2022, The convertible Sleeves, polyester, cotton batting, silk satin, glass beads, mirrors, gold metal chain, photo by Anaya Engineer
Hand beaded puffer sleeves finished with two way zippers to become a bag when you need one. Carefully handcrafted through inspirations taken from the traditional Indian craftsmanship of embroidery, beading and construction.
The Convertible Sleeves, The Convertible Sleeves, 2022, The convertible Sleeves, polyester, cotton batting, silk satin, glass beads, mirrors, gold metal chain, photo by Anaya Engineer
Hand beaded puffer sleeves finished with two way zippers to become a bag when you need one. Carefully handcrafted through inspirations taken from the traditional Indian craftsmanship of embroidery, beading and construction.
I was born and raised in countries that were not what I was meant to call home. I became an outsider to my own culture. I tend to play around a lot with the idea of home and escaping reality through my garments. While the main concept always revolves around my heritage, the idea of escaping and feeling lost always finds its way into my designs. Culture, escapism, and identity are the three concepts that drive my work. As an Indian designer, I tend to work very closely with creating prints, embroidery, and beadwork, mainly inspired by traditional Indian patterns that I have seen. The main silhouette of the garment is inspired by the contemporary design world I grew up in, and the details coming from my heritage is a representation of my identity. What I may seem like vs the little details of me and my background that have made me who I am today, is what my garments reflect.