Shortly after the VCUarts Qatar Annual Fashion Show in May 2010, while still a senior at VCUarts Qatar, Selina was approached by Cugini, one of the prestigious boutiques on the Pearl Qatar. Cugini loved her ‘India-inspired’ collection and wanted to showcase it, thereby marking her entry into the world of fashion. Selina is now in her second year selling her collection at Cugini.
This spring, the W Hotel presented Selina with the Award for Best Fashion Designer 2011. As part of the award, the hotel presented her with several opportunities to showcase her work. She is currently designing and producing a collection called “W by Night”, a ready-to-wear line of garments inspired by the ambience, the nightlife, and the overall feel of the W at night.
Selina discovered her love for fashion in high school. “I had always loved art, sketching and painting and it was my last year of high school when I started designing accessories. I filled up entire sketchbooks with drawings of shoes and jewelry.” Her interest in fashion started to grow from small accessories to dresses for herself and when it came time for her to choose which university to go to, the choice was clear. “I wanted to study fashion design. I was accepted to VCUarts Qatar and haven’t looked back since.”
Selina draws her inspiration from nature. Its delicate beauty and quietness enkindle her aesthetic greatly. She is also inherently inspired by her culture and background. “I am Indian, but was born and raised in the Middle East, brought up amongst an international setting, going to American schools all my life. All these aspects of my background influence my design. I am able to create contemporary garments which are unique in fabrication, style and color and have a twist of the Arabian and Indian.”
Selina’s design process starts with looking for fabrics. Once she finds fabrics that she absolutely loves, she starts designing. Her garments are unique in the way she mixes different textures, contrasting heavy jacquards and embroidered fabrics with gauzy light chiffons and smooth silks. She also puts a lot of hand detailing into her garments, giving each piece its own transcendent touch.
The opportunity to design for and sell her collection at boutiques like Cugini and the W Hotel this early in her career has helped Selina focus on what she wants to achieve in the future. She sees herself as an established designer, selling in multiple boutiques all over the Middle East and one day taking part in an international fashion week. “I can’t predict much more, part of the excitement of life is not knowing what will happen next. At the moment, I am doing everything I can to see myself succeed as a designer.”