Bite Autumn 2012

bite real life DRAMAQUEEN e thics of a WITH THE MIDDLE EAST FAST RISING ON THE INTERNATIONAL FASHION RADAR, LAUREN SMEETS EXPLORESTHEWORLD OF UNITEDARAB EMIRATES EMERGING DESIGNER BARKHA SHEWAKRAMANI,WHO CAPTUREDTHE WEALTH OF DUBAI IN HER LATEST CLOTHING COLLECTION.

A t the age of 27, not many people can say they have had four successful seasons of ‘stand out’ fashion collections. Not only is the beautiful Barkha Shewakramani a designer for her own range ‘Dramaqueen’ but she is also the founder and director of The Lupus Foundation, a charitable organisation that raises awareness of an illness in which the immune system attacks normal healthy tissues. From a young age the extraordinary Barkha knew where she was headed and it was only a matter of time before her goals were within reach. Barkha was always intrigued by the world of fashion, not surprising having been brought up in a family that boasts over 40 years of expertise in textiles and design. As a child the designer customised and redesigned clothes. When asked in a recent interview why she progressed into design, she stated that it was only natural as she had always used the language of fabrics and various silhouettes to express herself. Having studied garment construction at the prestigious American University in Dubai, a university that seeks to duplicate the American recipe for success”, the young designer then went on to debut her designs at the 2007 Dubai Fashion Week. Her world changed from that moment on, having caught the eye of Middle Eastern socialites, leading corporates and Bollywood royalty. A master at self- promotion, Barkha always wears her own designs, which has earned her a regular spot on various best-dressed lists. In 2011 ‘Dramaqueen’ was spotted by the famous LA boutique Kitson – a favourite for fashion faces such as LA stylist Rachel Zoe. Most recently, Barkha celebrated the September launch of her Indian collection set in the centre of Mumbai’s fashion district. Barkha was happy to reveal some of the secrets for this season’s collection. “This season you can expect lots of pop colours, party prints, wide legged jumpsuits, and of course the signature Victoria dress in different fabrics and embellishments.” She went on to say,

“ A quintessential Dramaqueen woman is someone who is confident in her own skin, who loves fashion and is not scared to experiment.” It appears Barkha has taken a lot of inspiration from her favourite era for this collection – the 1970s. Barkha’s personal experience continues to shape her journey in the fashion Industry as she now designs for the cause of Lupus. Famous celebrities who are also affected by this particular disease are Lady Gaga, Seal andToni Braxton. Barkha is also a member of the Arthritis Foundation

in Dubai. Another recent accomplishment was her collaboration with the youngest author in Dubai, Malvika Shroff, to release a book about the lives of Lupus patients. Not only has Barkha dedicated so much personal time and effort to the charitable organisation but she has also donated all profits from Dramaqueen to the Lupus Foundation. The 27-year-old said, “If I had not been diagnosed with Lupus I would not have understood the plight of people with major illnesses.” The Dramaqueen label is aimed at