By Karen Masing and Priscilla Tawie
KUCHING is witnessing an exciting new fashion trend that blends traditional Indian styles with contemporary Western designs. This unique fusion, known as Indo-Western fashion, is capturing the attention of many fashion enthusiasts in the city, and its popularity is steadily growing.
Leading the fashion movement in Kuching is Datin Karishma Shankar Asnani, a textile expert and passionate advocate for Indian fashion. She has been instrumental in introducing this creative mix of cultural styles to Kuching, and her influence is helping to shape the city’s evolving fashion landscape.
Karishma, who has a deep rooted love for fashion, shared her insights into how the fashion world had transformed over the years. She emphasised how Indo-Western fashion elegantly combined the intricate details of Indian clothing with sleek, modern Western aesthetics.
“Fashion in India has evolved significantly,” she remarked, explaining that Indo-Western fashion allowed people to enjoy the beauty of traditional Indian garments while embracing the trends of the West.
As a textile expert, Karishma noticed the lack of Indian inspired clothing options when she first moved to Kuching. However, she soon observed a growing interest in this unique style.
“When I first came here, there wasn’t much demand for this type of fashion, but now it’s amazing to see how much it has grown,” she said.
Today, Karishma is actively contributing to the growing fashion scene in Kuching by introducing new Indian and Indo-Western designs to the city, providing Kuchingites with access to stylish, culturally rich outfits that seamlessly blend both Indian and Western influences.
Indo-Western fashion is more than just a passing trend, it’s a global movement that reflects a shift in how people around the world perceive clothing. Karishma explained that the goal was not only to create fashionable outfits but also to bring Indian fashion into the global spotlight.
“Fashion has gone global. Western styles are everywhere now, but we must adapt to the times. Indian designs like the sari will always have a special place, but we need to make them fit modern needs and global tastes,” she said.
The popularity of Indo-Western fashion has also been boosted by high profile events, such as the spectacular Ambani wedding in India in July last year which cost a whopping US$600 million.
“After the Ambani wedding, everyone was talking about Indian fashion,” Karishma noted.
“It’s no longer just about traditional attire. It’s about bold, stylish designs that can be worn every day,” she added.
As the demand for Indo-Western fashion continues to grow, it is clear that this trend is here to stay. The versatile designs can be worn for various occasions, from special events to everyday life.
Karishma highlighted that women were increasingly seeking clothing that was not only beautiful but also practical and easy to wear. While Kuching embraces the Indo-Western trend, it should be noted that Malaysia is also home to a renowned textile giant with over a century of history.
The Binwani’s Group, the textile giant founded in 1925, has been a pioneer in combining traditional clothing with modern fashion trends. The company is well known for its high quality fabrics and custom made clothing, and it continues to thrive after more than 100 years in business.
Vijay Binwani, the director of the Binwani’s Group who recently showcased his fabrics in Kuching in a fashion exhibition, spoke about the company’s legacy and its commitment to quality.
“My grandfather started this company, and now three generations later, we are still here. We focus on providing luxurious fabrics, especially for weddings and special events,” Vijay shared.
The Binwani’s Group is recognised for using premium materials like French lace with Swarovski crystals, and the company has collaborated with notable brands such as Libertine, a brand popular among A-list actors the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and even Beyonce.
The Binwani’s Group even had its fabrics featured in the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’. Despite the growing popularity of ready-to-wear clothes, Vijay emphasised that custom made clothing remained in high demand for those seeking something truly special.
Another designer making waves is Charu Parashar, known for creating stunning clothing that merges modern styles with traditional Indian craftsmanship. Charu’s creations are handmade by skilled artisans using pure fabrics such as silk. She prides herself on using natural materials and ensuring that each piece is crafted with the utmost care.
“We only use pure fabrics, and everything is handmade,” Charu explained.
“Our designs are unique because we don’t use synthetic materials,” she said.
Charu’s clothing is deeply inspired by nature, with many of her prints reflecting India’s flora and fauna. Her designs often reimagine traditional Indian fabrics into contemporary, wearable pieces.
She has expanded her brand internationally and now sells her creations in 26 cities across seven countries. Her designs in the last few years have been across New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, Dubai, Kuwait, Toronto, Jakarta, Barcelona, Paris, Vancouver and Milan. Despite her global success, she remains committed to supporting Indian artisans and preserving their traditional skills.
As Kuching embraces Indo-Western fashion, it is clear that this trend is just beginning. With visionaries like Karishma, the Binwani’s Group luxurious offerings, and Charu Parashar’s unique creations, Kuching is becoming an exciting hub for modern fashion that blends Indian and Western influences.
The growing interest in Indo-Western clothing is reshaping the city’s fashion scene and as more designers bring their innovative styles to Kuching, the future of fashion in the city looks bright. With more events and collaborations on the horizon, Indo-Western fashion is set to continue playing a significant role in Kuching’s evolving fashion culture.
Preserving a tradition from the past
Despite the blends of both cultures — Indian and Western — Karishma added that it was nevertheless important to carry forward traditions, in the midst of modernisation. A textile technologist, she explained that, though proud of the current Indo-Western fashion industry, there was a need to preserve Indian culture.
“With everything else around us westernised to fit modern concepts, there should still be a preservation of Indian culture.
Yes, westernised outfits are versatile and easier to wear, but by inserting elements of Indian culture, we can be seen on the global stage together,” she asserted.
Upholding these sentiments, Charu, who has been in the industry for over 20 years, aims to revive Indian artisans. Though with modern elements, Charu’s fabrics are handwoven with the Indian handloom technique. To her, it is important as it revives the country’s dying art.
“These are age-old techniques from India. It’s our heritage and culture. With the digital era looming in, if we don’t take the initiative to preserve our heritage, it’s just going to vanish. Our future generations will not know anything about it,” she stated.
Apart from that, Charu’s endeavour helps provide jobs and opportunities for independent artisans in India. What’s unique about her designs is the modern silhouettes with a touch of tradition, “and that’s how we balance modern and tradition through our designs,” she added.
Echoing Charu’s endeavour in reviving old arts, Vijay’s goal is to keep Binwani’s heritage strong. He aims to revive the Malaysian batik and its making process. To him, the necessity to keep traditions is important as it is lessons and values passed down from generations.
“All these art are techniques. It’s not just designs done by hand. These days, it’s easy to obtain from a factory, however, it is not essentially the same thing,” he said.
At his boutique in West Malaysia, Vijay introduces batik designers and encourages the use of baju Melayu (regardless of races). To him at Binwani’s, it is an effort and initiative created to share stories from the past.
In a world where modernisation and global influences continue to shape the fashion industry, by ensuring that cultural heritage is not lost in the process, it becomes a bridge between the past and the future, proving that tradition and innovation can coexist harmoniously. As fashion continues to evolve, heritage is not just a relic of the past but a part of our identity that deserves to be cherished and sustained.
