Mirai Patel

Collection Statement

Kensho is the Japanese word for the zen experience and enlightenment when one’s true nature is seen for what it truly is. The name reflects my own experiences of finding inner peace. This collection is about delving deeper into the concept of color adaptation in terms of culture and identity with the way we perceive parts of the world and reflect on ourselves in our own unique ways. The language of colour in society, culture and fashion has an extremely broad range of definitions and perceptions. White is defined as the absence of colour. In Hinduism, white marks a loss, as widowers wear white saris for the rest of their lives in respect to their dead husbands. In Western society, white is associated immediately with racial underpinnings. From culture to culture, colours are given meaning after meaning. Thus, I wish to reflect on the dynamic aspects of multicultural roots and notions of color that branch to form a network of our very complex identities. These garments reflect the past as much as the present and future - from my mother’s determination in pursuing her love marriage, the recent passing of my headstrong grandfather, to the shared experience of identity confusion for those of multicultural backgrounds. Kensho is a women’s couture collection that focuses on movement and freedom in its airy, playful silhouettes. All the garments are made of the most sustainable materials and natural dyeing techniques incorporating the use of optic fibers and UV changing pigmentation to spark dialogue on the world’s interpretation of color.

– Mirai Patel