VILAITI
Raised in America, I always felt a sense of displacement. I thought visiting my motherland would instill a sense of belonging within me but it only left me more lost. I’ve existed in the liminal space of not being from here or there; drifting as a foreigner in a foreign land. Vilaiti, which means foreigner in Sanskrit, was created for me to harmonize my American upbringing and Indian heritage, reclaiming my identity. A place where I can exist as me. The piece of apparel, The Kurta, is the personification of Vilaiti. A men’s casual wear garment rooted in Indian culture. I travel to India once a year to source my fabric and work with local artisans to craft my pieces in small batches. I hand draw all my designs and the artisans create printing screens based off those designs, cut and sew the kurta together and hand screen every last piece.