Dubai based Indian designed Barkha Shewakramani has created a name for herself in the local fashion scene with her beautiful show-stopping creations. Her haute couture line, Drama Queen first debuted in 2007 at Dubai Fashion Week, and immediately garnered a following of luxury fashion devotees.
Since the beginning, Shewakramani wanted her collections to be affordable and yet still maintain a high sense of quality and luxury. Now into her fifth year, the designer has preserved her brand's aesthetic and quality.
We interviewed the fashionable and beautiful designer to find out more about her brand and what it takes to create one.
How did you get into the fashion industry?
From a very young age I was intrigued by the world of fashion, which often led me to cut and stitch the clothes my mom had bought for me. Fashion has always been a form of art for me; it’s a way of expressing myself through the language of fabrics, embellishments and various silhouettes. I went on to study garment construction at the American University in Dubai and it felt like a natural progression to go on to create my own fashion label.
The brand debuted at Dubai Fashion Week in 2007. Tell us a little about the journey since then and how the brand has grown since.
It’s been such a fantastic and fulfilling journey having the opportunity to do something that I enjoy so much. It’s been great to get my name out there to promote the causes close to my heart such as the Lupus Foundation for which I was diagnosed with from a young age.
How do you define your own personal style?
I’d describe my personal style as feminine, sophisticated with a modern edge. I tend to embrace the classic cuts and enjoy wearing different textures to make the look my own.
Who has been your biggest fashion influence?
My ultimate style icon is Catherine Deneuve for her Gallic sophistication and elegance. I like to think that my designs mirror such class and structure as her garments portrayed.
Describe the woman that wears Drama Queen.
The brand is known to be young, hot and trendy, and creates fashionable attire for a night out or a day in. I design for the modern woman and I cater to her search for affordable, versatile and well-designed clothes. Every girl in her own way is full of drama and emotion; she has a longing to be treated like a princess, and every garment of mine makes her feel like a queen, hence ‘Drama Queen.’
Where do you find the inspiration for your work?
With the prominence of jewelry in the Middle Eastern culture, I’m truly inspired by the look and feel of jewelry! Consequently, most of my garments are rich in jewel tones and are made of ornate silk or velvet that reflects the sheen of natural gemstones. I take a lot of inspiration from my travels also as I tend to reflect my own experiences in the designs I wear. I like to mix the eastern and western design traditions to make something really different and unique.
What is the one fashion trend that is here to stay?
I would say that confidence is here to stay. Although it’s not a trend as such, I feel that no matter what you wear, if you are comfortable in the individual that you are, you can pretty much pull off any trend.
Where do you see your brand in 5 years?
The Drama Queen brand is growing through the sheer growth of its customer base. Currently, we are looking to sign up young and upcoming women who are strong individuals in their own sense, to act as our brand ambassadors and spread awareness. In terms of fashion, we recently tied up with an accessories designer to manufacture a small collection only for Drama Queen. In the near future we are also looking to expand into exotic leather handbags.
For more information about Drama Queen visit www.dramaqueen.me
– Saira Malik
