The Singaporean fashion designer who dresses brides, politicians and royalty

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The Singaporean fashion designer who dresses brides, politicians and royalty

Kavita Thulasidas took over the reins of her family's Indian fashion boutique, Stylemart, at the young age of 24. Since then, she has infused other Asian cultures into her designs, creating uniquely Singaporean creations.

thirty Oct 2022 06:33AM (Updated: 30 Oct 2022 07:15AM)

Stepping into Stylemart's boutique on Selegie Road, yous are immediately greeted past a resplendent assortment of colours. Hanging on the racks and elegantly draping over mannequins are saris, lehengas, gowns and more, each intricately embroidered and exquisitely tailored.

The designer behind them all is Kavita Thulasidas, who took over the family unit business organization from her mother.

The history of Stylemart, in fact, can be traced dorsum to the 1950s. "It started off as a store in Changi Hamlet where my grandfather used to tailor suits and uniforms for British officers of the Royal Air Strength (RAF)," the 47-year-former shared.

In the early 1980s, her female parent, Huri Buxani, took over the business, turning it into a high-terminate Indian conjugal mode boutique. "She was really the first to bring high-end Indian fashion to Singapore," Thulasidas revealed. "For brides who were getting married, there was no question of them stopping by Stylemart to shop."

Thulasidas was involved in the family business from a very young historic period. One could say that a penchant for manner design runs in her claret. "I was one of those fashion-savvy teenagers, and I was but naturally interested in the concern," she shared.

At the age of 24, Thulasidas took over the family business concern from her mother. (Photo: Alvin Teo)

The designer recalls travelling to India with her mother on merchandising trips, where she was exposed to the fascinating world of fabrics, textile weaving and embroidery. "I retrieve I was a bit of a pain to the team in Republic of india at the time. You know, this trivial daughter comes in, doesn't really know anything, just starts pushing them to try this, endeavour that," she recounted with a laugh.

At 18, most youths would all the same be finding their passion in life. Only at that age, Thulasidas had already launched her debut collection.

She officially took over the reins of the business half-dozen years subsequently, at the age of 24. That was 1999, and the world was notwithstanding reeling from the Asian Fiscal Crisis. Back so, Thulasidas was married and living in France (more on this afterward) merely decided to return abode to aid her mother.

"It was a very difficult time and I think that was when my input was near valued," she recalled. "I told my mother, 'Let'southward combine my strength, my youth, my energy with your wisdom and years of experience, and let's make something happen.'"

Armed with fresh ideas to plow the business concern around, Thulasidas embarked on a rebranding of Stylemart in gild to aggrandize its clientele.

"I wanted to exercise something more sectional, more than upmarket and diversify from bridal article of clothing to couture, evening gowns and political party habiliment," she recounted. That's when she began experimenting with fusing other Asian cultures into her designs, creating uniquely Singaporean creations.

Stylemart's designs are a fusion of Asian cultures. (Photo: Stylemart)

For example, qipaos and kebayas are designed with Indian embroidery, while batik is used for saris. "We moved from existence a household name within the Indian community, to becoming a Singapore fashion label," she said.

UNIQUE CREATIONS WITH AN ASIAN TWIST

Today, Thulasidas is 1 of Singapore'southward most established fashion designers. She counts ministers, media personalities, also as royalty from around the region equally some of her clients.

This year, she was one of viii local designers chosen to showcase at #SGFASHIONNOW, the first gimmicky fashion exhibition by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). For the showcase, Thulasidas designed an elaborate kebaya sari, featuring intricate silk thread embroidery.

Thulasidas designed a sari kebaya for #SGFASHIONNOW, the kickoff gimmicky mode exhibition past ACM. (Photo: Kavita Thulasidas)

"I think information technology's actually important to accept clothes and designs that are classic," she says of her design philosophy. "My signature style is one-of-a-kind pieces that use very skilled adroitness. Each piece has an Asian twist and is true to the ethnicity it belongs to."

In 2005, Thulasidas also branched out to launch her own label, Asian Woman. The label has a loftier guild following, with "more Westernised evening gowns" designed for crimson carpet events and parties. True to her signature fashion, she describes the designs as "Western wear with an ethnic twist".

In 2019, she debuted her eponymous characterization – Kavita Thulasidas – in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The boutique is located in Ane Galle Face Mall, a prestigious shopping development in the nation's upper-case letter.

A blueprint from Asian Woman. Thulasidas describes the label'south designs every bit "Western article of clothing with an ethnic twist". (Photograph: Stylemart)

Compared to Stylemart, the characterization is "a lilliputian more than sectional, with couture conjugal wear", Thulasidas explained. "Information technology is a very personalised and detailed design procedure for both the bride and the groom."

Afterward waiting for a pickup in the hymeneals scene in Singapore, the designer is now preparing to launch the characterization here. Although it was originally slated to launch in September, she decided to agree it back a little longer in order to focus on the Deepavali festivities.

OPTIMISM IN DIFFICULT TIMES

Existence an events-oriented fashion label, Stylemart likewise every bit its sub-brands accept not been spared from the pandemic. But robust business during this Deepavali menstruation is pointing towards "a very promising recovery", Thulasidas commented.

"It was very unpredictable at start. We started product very early on, but when Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) was announced, we tried our best to pull the brakes equally much as nosotros could. But at present, we realised that we actually need our stocks. Fifty-fifty if it'due south a dwelling house effect, people desire to exist dressed up."

Thulasidas is no stranger to navigating through tough times, having steered the business organisation through the Asian Financial Crunch. The cardinal, she believes, is to remain optimistic.

"Information technology's not about how the pandemic affects you lot, but how you cope through it. I've seen this business organisation through many different cycles, including the ups and downs of the Asian Financial Crisis," she said.

"I won't boldly say that I have become immune to hard times, merely I have only become very used to saying, "Okay, this is merely a stage". We just go back to basics, tighten the belt. Nosotros're going to run a tight transport to get through these stormy days and in a matter of time, we will see the sunlight again."

Difficult WORK AND SACRIFICE

Pandemic or not, the life of a manner designer may seem glamourous on the surface. Just behind the scenes, churning out designs, along with managing an entire business, is a lot of difficult work.

For Thulasidas, getting to where she is required a lot of sacrifice. Prior to taking over Stylemart, she had just given nascence to her showtime daughter the twelvemonth before, the female parent-of-two shared.

When asked how she counterbalanced life every bit a young mum together with leading a business organization, she answered with a smile: "I don't know how I did it, I just did it."

"Simply I must say, the business really took a big part of my life," she mused. "Sometimes, when I think about it, I do feel that I missed out on a certain phase in my life. I was working [from such a immature age] and sometimes I feel that my youth was spent working very, very, difficult."

Withal, she counts herself lucky to be doing something she'southward passionate about. "Not many people can say that," she acknowledged.

Pre-pandemic, Thulasidas held a runway evidence every year. (Photo: Stylemart)

She describes the time she spent living in France – the fashion capital of the world – as an middle-opening experience that allowed her to fully embrace her honey for design.

"I spent a lot of time reflecting, researching and only dabbling in way. When you get into something and then young, sometimes you don't think too much about it. Simply those three years away from the family business fabricated me realise that mode is something that I am good at. And if I had the gamble, it'south something I want to exercise," she said.

Having devoted her life to the family business, would she expect her children to take over ane day? "You lot know what I've done? I spoiled the market place for myself, because my children take seen me work then hard, I think they became scared," Thulasidas responded with a laugh.

While she describes her 23-year-onetime daughter as "artistically talented", she is currently pursuing a career equally a lawyer, she shared. Her eighteen-year-sometime son, however, has shown interest in concern.

"He likes chatting with me near business organisation processes, things I'm doing right in my visitor. He's as well got a lot of communication on things that I'g doing incorrect," Thulasidas laughed. "I recall that he might get involved in multiple businesses in the time to come, and mine might be i among them."

But at the cease of the day, she believes that the concern should exist handed down to the most capable person. "I thing about family unit businesses is that you always retrieve it should be kept within the family. Only I'chiliad open to the idea of offer it later, when the time is right, to a deserving candidate who is talented, and not just someone inside the family."

FLYING THE FLAG

Reflecting on her career, Thulasidas shares that one thing she is proud of is the ability to correspond Singapore in her designs. "When I run across women I dress nourish state events, I take a lot of pride in that, because I think the designs truly reflect our Singaporean identity. We are a small country, simply nosotros have a strong sense of culture."

"I too cherish the fact that I get to dress women for special occasions. I get to be a function of their celebrations and bring joy into their lives. And that actually gives me a certain sense of validation and satisfaction with the work that I do," she added.

Thulasidas calls it an honour to exist able to continue her family unit's legacy. "My granddad was very proud of what my female parent achieved in her time, and my mother besides is very proud that I have taken the business to new heights. It was all achieved with hard work, grit and determination. Aught comes easy, and it is with their blessings that we abound."

The Singaporean fashion designer who dresses brides, politicians and royalty

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