Shymmers of ethical chic

Bengaluru-girl Shyma Shetty likes to keep her work exciting. That’s probably why she’s making waves with her luxury fashion label, Huemn, whose aesthetic can be best described as ambiguous. A graduate of NIFT, Bengaluru and Mount Carmel College before that, Shetty grew up always wanting to be an entrepreneur, but had no inkling that she would one day end up being in the fashion industry. Though, if her family’s business is anything to go by, it would look like it was a natural choice. “My father was a garment exporter and my mum studied fashion design too. Our dinner table conversations would always revolve around ideas, aesthetics, colours and textures. However, I never consciously thought fashion would be my full time job. But things have a way of falling into place,” shares Shetty.

The young lady, with her long curly hair and strikingly friendly face, followed up her fashion degree with some hardcore work experience with an accomplished designer in the capital and hasn’t looked back since. “My classmate from design school, Pranav Mishra and I teamed up to start our brand. The whole idea was to create clothes that would be a talking point.

This would not have been possible without Pranav. He’s a great conversationalist and it’s very interesting to chat with him,” she tells us. Launched five years ago, her list of clients reads like a red carpet guest list, with names like Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Kajol Devgan and Nimrat Kaur.

While the whole concept of ethical fashion and knowing who made your clothes is on her mind, her true inspiration comes from  the idea of wholesome design. “It’s not just about taking into consideration the ethical aspect of things. It’s about the whole story that goes into creating one piece of clothing or accessory. That’s what really inspires me and keeps my creative juices flowing,” she explains. Known as much for her own sartorial sensibilities as her designs, Shetty has often been featured on fashion blogs and magazines, for her quirky street style. “I love to experiment and think outside the box. I usually pick a piece that excites me and work the rest of my look around it. Also, the pieces in my wardrobe are very trendy as my closet is given a complete overhaul every season,” she reveals.  Laying emphasis on excitement, she shares that it’s the most important quality of fashion. “I’m no expert and I’ve been in the industry for a very short time, but my advice to beginners would be, aim to excite, because that’s what fashion is all about. Also, be ethical, treat your juniors well and always remember that product is king,” she signs off.