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Today we have Arti Sandhu a womxn who was one of our gal @taylo__or 's most inspiring and unconventional professors at university, and one of the most intelligent womxn she know's.
Growing up in an Army family mean't Arti covered a lot of ground in India from a young age. A love of drawing and customizing her Barbie doll led her to study fashion at NIFT in Delhi (India) and later in the UK. Since then she has taught Fashion Design in New Zealand and the US with frequent lectures on Indian fashion across the globe. Arti currently holds the position of Associate Professor in Fashion Design at the School of Design, DAAP, University of Cincinnati. Her academic research focuses on contemporary Indian fashion and design culture. She is the author of Indian Fashion: Tradition, Innovation, Style (Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), and has also published articles on Indian street style, drag aunties, contemporary catwalks, and soap-opera fashion. Her artworks, which explore identity and migration, have been exhibited in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the Netherlands, and India. Get to know her and her work on Instagram @artisandhu_illustrations.
Here's our chat with her.
1. Where’d you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in India. From there I spent time in the UK and New Zealand. I now live in Cincinnati OH, USA.
2. What is your definition of strength?
Being quietly confident and open to accepting one's shortcomings. Saying sorry and being kind. Being a womxn.
3. What is something that’s important to you now that never used to be?
A garden
4. How would you describe your style?
A little bit of everything. Interesting and unique things, especially as they relate to India. I love handwoven textiles. Almost everything I own has a story behind why I purchased it and why I want to hold on to it forever. Rarely do I buy clothes I care little about.
5. Favourite food to cook at home?
Tandoori chicken pizza.
Right now - Kaju barfi
6. What’re 3 books on your bookshelf?
It's hard to answer this one. Everything I'm reading links to my research and I have so much backlog of reading material that I don't even know where to start. One book (not related to research) that stayed with me for a long time was Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
7. What’s something you want to accomplish in the next year?
Get back on track with my research writing and travel to India - something that has suffered over the covid pandemic.
8. Tell us something people would find surprising about you:
I can't drive and I'm an introvert.
9. Favourite movie?
As a child: Mr. India.
Right now: Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
10. How do you want people to remember you?
It would be nice to be remembered for something positive! Perhaps someone who could help inspire some good ideas? A little off-beat, passionate about great fashion.