May 01, 2025

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Beyond Conventions

Being at the forefront of textile exploration, Studio Medium is attuned to a design-first philosophy in its futuristic creative pursuitsWords by SHIVPRIYA BAJPAI Photographs by TONGPANGNUBA LONGCHARI There's something inherently attractive yet intimidating about passionate people.Then, there are the rare ones who can hold your attention for hours talking about their dreams without actually gloating about their triumphs, but passively inspiring you to strive harder.Textile designer Riddhi Jain Satija and her partner, filmmaker Dhruv Satija, have made a case for pushing creativity boundaries at Studio Medium without losing sight of ingenuity since 2017I had rst met them in 2022 at their previous workshop in Neb Sarai, Delhi. It was around the time when their interplay of surface manipulation, textiles, and vibrant hues imagined through the classic six yards of timeless elegance, made the fashion fraternity take notice of Studio Medium. The hands-free sari,in question,has since become the brand's signature,along with their imaginative take on resist dyeing techniques across items of clothing.It has been a journey over the years as the duo launched their agship store atThe Dhanmill, Delhi,in earlyApril,and moved their workshop in the vicinityWith a lot of intrigue, I set out to meet them at their new atelier a week after their store launch. They are still the same...unequivocally passionate, completing each other's thoughts and sentences, holding the brand philosophy close to their hearts, yet have evolved in their creative interventions. Sharing his views about the timing of the store launch, Dhruv says,"We started to feel that we were only able to talk about what we do on Instagram or through our website in a limited sense.We needed a platform to show what we stand for in a much bigger way." Riddhi chimes in,"It's a space where our values and ethos take physical form.This store is an ode to the act of making.It is a means to express all that we think and do.We also needed a space near where we are, because we

In Full Bloom

The H&M X Magda Butrym collaboration brings Slavic romance to the world. By SHIVPRIYA BAJPAI he Polish ready-to-wear designer Magda Butrym has crafted a Tunique identity of romanticism in fashion. Working on her eponymous label for a decade, the designer's creative vocabulary rides high on e ortless elegance mixed with minimalism and sexiness. Think delicate corsages, fancy laces, dreamy ru es, sensual silhouettes, tailored precisions, and eclectic proportions. Her signature blend of femininity, boldness, and intricate craftsmanship take centre stage in the upcoming partnership with H&M. Known for pioneering global designer collaborations for two decades, including Karl Lagerfeld, Simone Rocha, Isabel Marant, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, and Anamika Khanna, H&M announces a special collection of womenswear, accessories, and jewellery with Butrym to explore her ethereal world of Slavic style. "Whenever we collaborate with someone, we tend to look for individuals with a strong design DNA, and that was the case with Magda. Her work is always powerful, feminine, and poetic at the same time. This collection is quintessentially Magda and that was, of course, what we were after," says Ann-So e Johansson, Creative Advisor, H&M"At rst, I couldn't quite believe it...our competition includes the biggest heritage French and English brands. So, to be recognised by H&M as a Polish designer feels like a tremendous honour, especially considering their history of incredible collaborations with fashion icons," Butrym says excitedly. The Slavic spirit is at the heart of everything the designer does. With this collection speci cally, it started with small