Preview: SITARA* 2015

This week, I caught up with Alysha Radia, creative director of the SITARA* 2015 fashion show, to find out more about the inspiration behind the show’s foundation, and her involvement in its staging. SITARA* is now in its sixth year, and was initially set up to introduce diversity into the St Andrews fashion scene, and to provide a platform for other cultures to express themselves. While FS and DONT WALK have prescribed aesthetics, the former priding itself on high fashion, the latter on an edgier style, SITARA* is still in the process of defining itself. “For now, it’s simply a show promoting the merit of South Asian fashion as something in itself. It’s a philanthropic venture.”

Alysha was in charge of coming up with the show’s theme, ‘Street culture’, and chose it because she felt it was a niche that the other fashion shows haven’t yet covered, and was narrow enough to give the show an individual aesthetic, without being too narrow. East London became her inspiration only after she had chosen the theme, being a West Londoner herself, as she was impressed by the clash of styles she discovered in the streets of Brick Lane. “I think it’s so cool how hipster and Asian style can coexist in such a small area!” Coincidentally, a number of the show’s designers have their bases in East London.

Alysha admits that in the first meeting of this year’s committee, the one thing the members all agreed upon was that SITARA* had to become much bigger and better. This year, the show is being held in a marquee on the Old Course for the first time, having previously been staged in Younger Hall. “A change in venue is a symbolic way of saying it’s moved on. Moreover, the marquee gives us more control over how the venue is going to look.” She adds that she thinks the audience is going to be impressed by the clothing modelled this year. “The clothes are much more high fashion and edgy than in previous years. I have chosen a wide range of designers, creating an interesting juxtaposition of South Asian and Western style. Most outfits will have a South Asian aspect, even if it’s only jewellery teamed with clothes by a British designer.”

The committee has decided to donate the show’s proceeds to the same charity as last year, SOS Children’s Village Multan, because it felt that is was important to develop and maintain a relationship with a specific charity. “Everyone felt strongly about this. There was no real reason to discontinue supporting the same cause.” To find out more about this charity, you can visit its website at http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/

Guests have been encouraged to wear whatever they want, Alysha advising, “If you have a sari, don’t feel self-conscious about wearing it. It’s all about feeling comfortable and having fun. Some people will dress up, some down. I always enjoy dressing up because it makes it feel more like an occasion, so always encourage it!”

The show starts at 20:00 on Saturday, VIP admission from 19:00, and is approximately two and a half hours long, with a half an hour interval. Expect a night of unique fashion, exquisite performance and flowing drinks. Word has it that BHAI, a cider company that uses apples grown on the foothills of the Himalaya, is donating over a thousand bottles of cider for only four hundred guests!

Images courtesy of Callum Hyland