Future → Built Creatively
“The Sacred Cuts” is a fashion collection by Vishakha Khanna, a designer of Diploma in Fashion Design July 2025 batch at JD Institute, Goa. Inspired by the traditional Indian folk art of Sanjhi Art, a delicate stencil-cutting craft associated with devotion, storytelling, and intricate craftsmanship, the collection explores the theme of heritage, storytelling, and contemporary reinterpretation. It aims to transform the visual language of Sanjhi into modern fashion while responding to the growing need to preserve and celebrate traditional crafts through innovative design.
The collection is designed for modern women who appreciate cultural narratives, handcrafted aesthetics, and statement fashion, keeping their desire for meaningful and artistic clothing at the core of the design process.The design approach focuses on innovation, craftsmanship, structure, and visual storytelling, ensuring that the outcome is both expressive and wearable. Through research into the layered compositions, symmetrical patterns, and devotional motifs of Sanjhi Art, the collection identifies the opportunity to reinterpret traditional stencil-cutting techniques into contemporary fashion.
Materials such as scuba fabric and techniques including laser-cut detailing, layered textile construction, cutwork applications, and sculptural silhouette development were chosen to achieve architectural form, depth, and dramatic visual impact. Visually, the collection is defined by bold cutwork, layered surfaces, sculptural silhouettes, and a striking palette of black and burnt orange, reflecting spirituality, artistic richness, and the intricate beauty of traditional Indian craftsmanship. The final outcome, a contemporary fashion collection, embodies the fusion of heritage and innovation, seeking to create a dialogue between traditional storytelling and modern design expression.Through this collection, the designer aims to highlight the relevance of Indian folk art within contemporary fashion, positioning design as a tool for cultural preservation and creative exploration. Ultimately, “The Sacred Cuts” stands as a reflection of tradition reimagined, where the timeless artistry of Sanjhi evolves into a bold and modern fashion language.
