From surplus to stylish

ISSUE: 136

Sheena Uppal is committed to creating limited quantities of thoughtful and ethical wardrobe staples for women

How were you drawn to design?

SU: From a young age, I was drawn to fashion styling and expressing myself through my clothes. I spent a few years working in my family’s garments and textiles business, learning about fabrics and embroideries, which I now enjoy bringing to life through Rengé. I was never very academically inclined in school. I’m a kinaesthetic learner and always found that I learnt more through ‘doing’ and problem solving. I studied Fashion Marketing and Management in college but nothing could prepare me for what lay ahead. Everything I’ve learned I’ve grasped through learning on the job.

Describe your design process. 

SU: It starts with looking first at the fabrics we have access to for that particular collection. Because we work with surplus fabrics, there’s always an element of surprise as we have to work with what is available. I am a big fan of comfort over trends. I like to make pieces that we can wear again and again, and most importantly pieces that every single woman can access no matter her shape or size.

How do you plan to expand your brand? Share your aspirations.

SU: From the start and even now my desire has always been to run a small successful business. I don’t have any crazy expansion plans. I am interested in staying consistent and small, and that’s the only way we can stay true to being an ethical and thoughtful brand. I would like to eventually open an animal sanctuary in India somewhere and I hope that Rengé can support those dreams soon.

Purchase Designindia 135 here. Read the digital copy of Designindia on Magzter, or POOL App which you can download from AppStore, Google Play.