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Discovering the world of fashion through the eyes of Tharshanthan

30 Oct 2022

By Nuskiya Nasar The world of fashion is never easy. The rules are always changing, the trends always shifting, and the industry is ever-evolving. But, in recent years, the playing field has shifted even more. With the rise of social media, the internet, and the ever-changing landscape of the fashion industry, the game has changed. Senior fashion designer of Mimosa Clothing, Tharshanthan, sheds light on his fashion journey this week.  Tell us a little about yourself? I’m Tharshanthan. My life consists of two roles – fashion designer and model. I work as a senior fashion designer in a leading clothing brand, Mimosa Clothing in Sri Lanka. What sparked your interest in fashion? When I was seven, I watched a song from an Indian Tamil movie. That was my first inspiration to do something in the field of fashion. But as a child, I didn’t know what the correct term for the profession was, so I told everyone I wanted to become a tailor. As I grew older, I watched movies, dressmaking videos, and fashion shows, and read fashion magazines. I self-studied the fashion techniques and finally became a successful fashion designer.   When and how did it all begin?  My mother is my first and biggest inspiration. Her hobby was tailoring. I always looked up to her – how she sewed and how she created “magic”. She taught me everything about creating new stitches using her own technique.  Some of my relatives, neighbours, and friends told me that fashion designing was not for boys and to not waste time on it, but my family members, especially my mom, encouraged me to do what I loved. My mom made me understand why I shouldn’t listen to what other people said. She told me to do what I loved and to believe in myself, and to show society who I am and what I could do. So, I found my passion and came to Colombo one fine day to study fashion design, and that’s how it all began. What does fashion mean to you? If I were a child, fashion would be Disney World to me. It’s my fantasy world. Tell us about your modelling journey.  When I was in school, I was very afraid of having my picture taken. During the first Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, my brother bought a camera and took pictures of me, which I posted on social media. I got a great response. This was a big turning point in my life and career.  A few months later, my dream of becoming a model came true. Famous designer Amesh Wijesekera was looking for some fresh faces for his next shoot. I got my very first opportunity with him. I was very happy to be a part of his shoot. After the shoot, I got the opportunity to work with Vanta Studio and King’s Life. I am collaborating on some other photo shoots right now as well. What were some of the challenges you faced in your modelling career? Some people think that a male model should be fair, tall, and muscular, so it’s really hard for a dark-skinned, thin, and short person like me to find modelling opportunities. Sometimes, after the fit is done and the shoot is confirmed, the client would use a different model, and sometimes people simply criticise me in public.  What is your advice for aspiring fashion designers like you? Fashion is like an art – every designer has a different culture around them, a different taste, and different creativity. You need to firstly find out what you can create, because that is the most important part of the fashion industry. Find that part and focus on it. Believe in yourself. Always do what you love. Do it with passion.   PHOTOS © TAVISH GUNASENA, ROB HEIGHTS, YADUSHIKA


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