Sohiny is a consulting designer,  creative consultant, freelance fashion stylist and occasional fashion writer primarily based out of Mumbai. Kolkata and Delhi are a close second.

The Beginning My schooling was in Kolkata, where my parents still live. After school I studied fashion design for 5 years, first from National Institute of Fashion Technology Kolkata, followed by London College of Fashion. 
My internships and the beginning of my work life were in design. While I was still a student, I had done some small styling projects and considered becoming a stylist part-time. It was by a stroke of chance that I ventured into the magazine world as a writer and stylist, but I have always kept in touch with design through freelance projects.

Moment  I wore a Winnie-the-Pooh hoodie for my NIFT entrance interview. All the other candidates were clad in formals! I was certain that I had messed up my chances with that outfit, so I feigned über-confidence.  Sure enough, the panel very critically asked me if I had dressed appropriately for the occasion – I was ready to pass out. I said, “This is fashion school. There shouldn’t be any appropriate dressing.”  I got through.

“I am a strong supporter & promoter of Indian design. However the ‘design’ part is always more important. Good design is like music; its origin or location is only an additional detail. There is no need to try and define ‘Indian’; it is not something tangible like a textile or craft, but a feeling or a state of mind.”

Inspiration Numerous. Irving Penn and Issey Miyake’s collaborations; 1990s minimalism; World War I & II; the Khadi movement; NWFP dress codes; world tribes; punk and grunge are amongst the classic favourites. 
 Music and travel inspire me hugely, I can’t think or work without them. Then there are ‘phases’ and ‘moments’ when I’m really into something, furiously researching and gathering all that I can find.   Some of my closest friends are from my design school and the industry and many of us started our careers at the same time. It’s great to grow together, even if in different paths, and be each others sounding boards, critics, mentors, financiers and much more. They are my biggest inspirations. Digital References wwd.com, jedroot.com, google,  wikipedia Work Design internships – Esprit; Belleville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany Assistant designer at Kiran Uttam Ghosh Senior fashion writer and stylist at Verve Magazine Collaborations/ Projects – Creative consultant at Kallol Datta 1955, Sailex and Runway stylist for Kallol Datta 1955, Sailex, Breathing Space by Eina Ahluwalia, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, Nupur Kanoi & Nikasha Editorial features/shoots for Verve, Marie Claire India and Harper’s Bazaar India  

Above: photography | Joy Datta   source | Verve

Above: photography | Bikramjit Bose   source | Marie Claire

Above: photography | Lamya Bhatri   source | Verve

Above: photography | Joy Datta   source | Marie Claire

Above: photography | Lamya Bhatri  source | Verve

Above: photography | Rafique Sayed     source | Kallol Datta 1955 SS 2013