As artists working in a largely visual medium, fashion designers have, since the dawn of couture, had a strong relationship to colour.  Some relationships are stronger than others, the colour becoming inextricable from the designer’s identity. Consider the iconic Valentino Red or International Klein Blue. Or how Giorgio Armani earned himself the title of ‘King of Greige’.

Using a statement colour as a cornerstone for brand identity is a practice that has in recent years seen a rise in popularity. Shaibal Saha pushed his Indigo brand and love of everything blue for a good number of years. We mourned the brief life of Monokrome by Maheen Khan. If there’s a designer, however, who has impressed both with the longevity of her brand, and her innovations in style, however, it has to be Rumana Chowdhury, designer and founder of Warah.

Sustainable style

One of the hallmarks of Rumana’s work is her extensive collaboration with traditional artisan communities. Working with materials like block and Khadi, she not only brought new life to once overlooked fabrics but also played a crucial role in reviving dying artisan communities.