From India with Love: Shwetambari
The brand was nominated for Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award.
Image Courtesy of Shwetambari
Unlike most fashion designers who start with a pencil and a sketchbook, Shwetambari Mody's creative journey begins with a canvas and a paintbrush. This approach, combined with the brand's commitment to luxury, quality, accessibility, and sustainability, sets the self-titled brand Shwetambari apart. With its base in New York City and production in India, Shwetambari offers a range of apparel and jewelry that embody these values.
“People say that I’m a painter, but I literally doodle and convert those doodles into fabrics,” Mody says. “It’s not complicated. I think fabric is one of the most beautiful mediums, and I’ve always been into textiles. It translates easily, and I used to paint as a child. It’s seamless and my way of getting right into the fabric.”
While Shwetambari Mody is based in New York City, her designs are a testament to her deep-rooted Indian heritage. She frequently returns to India, where most of her exquisite designs are meticulously handcrafted by local artisans using materials sourced from the subcontinent. This fusion of Indian heritage with modern luxury fashion is a hallmark of Mody's brand, preserving India's rich textile heritage with a contemporary twist.
Image Courtesy of Shwetambari
“I love natural fabrics,” she says. “We use a lot of silks. I’m really proud of the cashmere that we’ve sourced from India. It’s taken me three years to find this cashmere, and it’s as soft as any Italian cashmere. It’s comfortable, it’s easy, and it’s not constrained in any way. Even though the fabrics are luxurious, they should feel easy. I want people to feel that: comfortable and easy.”
Shwetambari also specializes in linens and cottons. Many pieces are made to order, but many of the ready-to-wear looks are inspired by her paintings. For instance, her Water Color Dream collection depicts what she paints on the canvas: vibrant colors blended to create one cohesive canvas on silk. In addition to working with local craftspeople, Mody is also influenced by their technique in making clothes.
“What I do take from India is their embroidery techniques, which I love,” Mody says. “I’m discovering India in a whole new way. As for design, it’s inherently in me because I’m Indian, and I’ve grown up around it. I incorporate elements you’ve seen in India, but in terms of embroideries, mine are a mix between New York and India.”
Image Courtesy of Shwetambari
Mody has lived in New York City for over 20 years, so her fashion lens sees through many perspectives of fashion and design. She doesn’t want Shwetambari’s silhouettes to be complex. She aims for a marriage between any and every piece. As she works on her Spring/Summer 2025 collection, Mody garners more knowledge about different regional design techniques in India to produce clothes never-before-seen in America.
That similar research was applied in her Fall/Winter 2024 collection, Maharani, which translates to queen. She sourced jewels from the Mughal Empire era before independence. Mody put them on shirts for a jeweled outfit from head to toe. Embroidery brings people in, which is the conversation aspect of many of her pieces.
“It’s how I want to translate the line,” she says. “I want it to be for everyday women like you and me who enjoy that flair and bring their own flair to the clothing.”
In New York City, Mody finds inspiration from women on every corner. Despite living in major cities around the world, she insists there is no place like NYC coming close to its fashion realm. When she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, it didn’t take her long to realize this. In fact, her colleagues knew what kind of designer she would be before she even knew.
Image Courtesy of Shwetambari
“The reason I started the brand was when I moved to Paris to get my MBA in luxury brand management,” she says. “I saw that the French talked about Savoir Faire and realized we have it in India, too. It’s just not as fancy. But I’m happy to see that there is credibility in Indian craftsmanship. I don’t want it only to be French and Italian brands that talk about it. That’s how I started my collection.”
FIT helped her understand that fashion is more than about clothes. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, and Mody wanted Shwetambari to redefine what it means to handcraft with intention. She needed to learn the different aspects of fashion, and merchandising played a significant role in that education.
When designers of color like Mody create designs based on their heritage and culture, it raises the concern of cultural appropriation. However, anyone and everyone is made to wear Shwetambari. If a design is culture-centered, she does not see it as cultural appropriation. Mody simply wants wearers to feel happy, confident, and comfortable.
While Mody is all about moving at her own pace with her devoted team, success’s destiny is on her side. In March, she was nominated for Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award. She hopes to have a New York Fashion Week presentation next season, gain international exposure, and open some boutiques in the city.
