Divya Desai can do a little bit of everything. This well-rounded fashion design student has background in finance, marketing, and is incorporating both of these into her fashion studies. When Divya isn’t designing for the ISU fashion show, she is working on building her business, Indisoul. Divya has an eye for beautiful textiles, and is working to design in a sustainable, waste free way. We were able to sit down and find out more about Divya and her upcoming fashion show collection. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one
Design by Divya Desai, 2016 ISU Fashion Show
Her Campus: Have you always been a fashion major?
Divya: I come from a business background with an M.B.A in Finance and a Post Graduate Diploma in the field of Marketing. I have been designing for 5 years and I am very passionate about it. The need to acquire required knowledge, skills and experience to back my thoughts and creativity is what motivated me to be a fashion major.
Her Campus: What inspires you to do the work you do?
Divya: The creations at Indisoul are inspired by the rich art and culture, the vast world history of fashion, and the need to preserve our beautiful nature.
Her Campus: Tell us something interesting about yourself that sets you apart from other designers:
Divya: My designs focus on adding glamour to the concept of sustainable fashion. The designs stand out because they are a combination of variety of colors, upcycled premium fabrics and interesting silhouettes. The collection at Indisoul is very unique because it uses Indian textiles, which are one of a kind with rich craftsmanship and quality. They are colorful, full of life, and most importantly each design tells a story you can connect with.
Her Campus: Other than designing for the fashion show, what other projects are you working on right now?
Divya: I am a co-founder of Indisoul, a lifestyle brand based in India. East meets west is the idea behind its creations. It was started in the year 2013 with its businesses in India and Kuwait. The collection at Indisoul is an amalgamation of Indian art and culture, textile and handloom, print and embroidery with western style, designs and patterns keeping sustainability in mind. It mainly focuses on upcycling and zero waste design approach towards sustainable fashion.
Design by Divya Desai, 2016 ISU Fashion Show
Her Campus: What’s your favorite part about the FDM program?
Divya: I love the fact that this program allows you to express your thoughts and personality. It makes one realize their potential as it brings out creativity and talent. It is a great program to learn and improve your skills because we have wonderful teachers with immense experience and knowledge. The FDM program also gives great opportunities to interact closely with different spheres of fashion.
Her Campus: What are your plans after college?
Divya: I am looking forward to learning more and gaining practical experience in couture designing once I graduate. I also intend to do research on sustainable fashion further in the future.
Design by Divya Desai, 2016 ISU Fashion Show
Her Campus: As far as your collection for the 2017 fashion show, can you give us an idea of what we can expect?
Divya: As a responsible designer, my designs focus on making fashion sustainable, glamorous and interesting. The collection at Indisoul this year, which is called ‘The Mediterranean Connection’, is very close to my heart because the designs are well crafted with premium Indian textiles fused with exceptional western styles and a hint of ancient originality.
This collection takes inspiration from the history of haute couture fashion widely spread throughout the Mediterranean region. The imagination and thoughts behind these designs come from the rich history, art and culture of the famous Baroque and the vibrant Byzantine eras. The designs are inspired by current couturiers like Manish Malhotra, Sabyasaachi, Elie Saab and Georges Hobeika.
Design by Divya Desai, 2016 ISU Fashion Show
Her Campus: Divya, that all sounds so beautiful and intricate! Thank you for chatting with us, and we look forward to seeing your collection at the show!
Tickets for the 2017 Illinois State Fashion Show are on sale at the Braden Box Office, or online at Ticketmaster.com. The show is April 13th with light refreshments at 5 p.m. and a show start time of 7 p.m.