Ekta Kalan

Black Sheep

@ekta_official

Location

johannesburg / south africa

University

other university

Ekta Kalan, a strategy consultant turned Fashion designer takes all her childhood loves of colour, play, her interests in history, cultures and old craftsmanship to bring a new story. This fusion together with her Indian cultural heritage has influenced her as well her South African life filled with global and local mixes of experiences, have created her unique style and signature.

Ekta takes inspiration from global trend influences, colours and culture to establish a brand that represents a story of youth, fun, positivity and vibrancy through the play of bright colours and modern clean styling.

Each item of clothing has a story that is created with love and a sense of appreciation of the past and craftmanship.

Welcome to the world of EKTA, we hope you enjoy the experience as much we do, creating it.

Latest Collection

WHO AM I? AN EXPLORATION OF IDENTITY

WHO AM !? An exploration of personal identity.
The story was born out of Ekta Kalan’s personal reflections of herself as well as introspections about the way in which society and individuals seek an identity and how they use clothing, amongst other signifiers, to identify themselves. The fusion and mixture of cultures have always been part of the brand’s story and its development, but this collection is informed specifically by the designer’s personal journey of introspection as well as her spiritual journey.
“I carefully considered my own personal identity, which is layered. Being a 4th generation Indian South African, I looked closer at what identity truly means in terms of culture, ethnicity as well as the country one lives in. When these external factors intersect with our lived experiences, it shapes who we are and how we see ourselves. I have many faces, wear many masks and take on different roles personally and professionally. On a spiritual level, I am really interested in how we can live in ways that are aligned with being our true selves. So, if we were to remove our outer trappings, what are we left with? Who are we truly? Such introspection, I believe, will help us to uncover our authenticity. However, it is a journey of discovery; an evolution that’s characterised by learning, unlearning and relearning.”
In keeping with the designer’s articulation of self, her latest collection merges form with the formless, structure with no structure. The collections’ signature prints are also reminiscent of the designer’s layered identity. The fabric that her clothes are carefully constructed out of comprise print on print; layered fabric, draped in multiple ways; ultimately bringing a fusion of eastern and western influences. This synthesis can be seen in the silhouettes of this collection, ranging structured shirts and dresses to a traditional saree. The saree, made up of 5meters of fabric, holds no structure; it is transformed by the wearer and takes on an individual identity each time it is worn. For example, in India, sarees are draped differently based on different locations. As such, draping becomes a cultural practice that draws on colour, texture, and application of local print/craft.
Keeping some of these insights in mind, EKTA’s story hopes to inspire people to look deeper, embrace who they are and stay true to where they’ve come from. The process of discovery may result in uncovering exciting patterns from our lived experiences, that each of us should embrace and, ultimately, wear with pride.