ISHWA AGHARA

Category: Footwear

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025

Project Title: Indigo Waves Category: Footwear Design | Craft Revival | Handmade Sustainable Product Project Description: Indigo Waves is a handcrafted leather footwear design that celebrates the rich craft of India while promoting sustainability in terms of use of materials as well the making of the product. The surface of the footwear features intricate Torni work, a traditional embellishment technique practiced in the Kutch region of Gujarat, known for its threadwork and cultural significance. Inspired by the rhythmic movement of ocean waves, the design uses Indigo as the base color, complemented by threads in varying tints of blue, creating a soothing visual harmony. The embellishment adds visual appeal and also connects the wearer to the artisanal traditions of India in a more contemporary manner. The footwear is crafted entirely from genuine leather, including the sole, which ensures durability and natural comfort. A small iron strip is embedded within the base to provide structural strength and help retain the shape over time. The footwear is fully handmade and hand stitched, reflecting the values of slow design, craftsmanship, and conscious production.

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025

Project Title: Coccolith - The Silent Collapse Category: Jewelry Design | Awareness Through Accessories | 2025 Project Description: The jewelry design piece explores the theme "Oneness with Nature," challenging the growing divide between humankind and the natural world. The concept emphasizes that we are not separate from nature — we are nature itself. Yet, through relentless pursuit of comfort and growth, mankind has distanced itself, viewing nature as the "other," leading to devastating ecological consequences. To address this disconnect, the piece draws attention to ocean acidification, a pressing environmental issue that threatens the balance of marine ecosystems. The design specifically centers around coccolithophores — microscopic marine algae that form the foundational base of the marine food web. These organisms, with their intricate calcium carbonate shells called coccoliths, are among the first to suffer the invisible consequences of rising ocean acidity. The final outcome is a half-hemispherical pendant, deliberately oversized to evoke curiosity and spark conversation. Crafted from a composite of fractured coccolith-like elements, the pendant metaphorically embodies the breaking down of natural systems. Each intricate piece, fragmented and morphing in form, reflects the fragility and transformation coccolithophores undergo due to acidification. Made in brass coated in matte silver finish. The surface is smooth, yet the form is visually dynamic—evoking the delicacy of marine microstructures. The pendant is suspended from an adjustable silver chain, ensuring both comfort and balance in wear. Through this piece, the accessory becomes more than ornament—it becomes a medium of ecological awareness. By wearing it, one carries a message of environmental interconnectedness and the urgent need to shift from Otherness back to Oneness with nature.

Category: Furniture

Competitions: Home Competition 2025

Shoonya is an engaging low heighted interactive table crafted from sustainable teak wood which can be placed within a home environment that induces flow state as a spiritual experience for wellness enthusiasts and for people seeking mental well-being. Inspired by the Buddhist prayer wheel, it invites mindful engagement through 1008 two-colored cylindrical rotatable beads. The state of Shoonya is often sought in spiritual practices. It is a state where the mind is free from thoughts and there is a sense of connection to self. Rooted in the philosophy of “Shoonya meaning zero" — both as a starting point (0) and as a meditative state of mind (0) — the table invites wellness enthusiasts and individuals seeking mental well-being to lose themselves in the tactile, mindful act of creating. At the heart of Shoonya lies a grid of rotatable two-colored beads. By arranging these beads, the user can create a range of possibilities like a pattern, a message, a picture, a portrait, an illusion effect, etc. As users interact with the 1008 beads, they naturally enter "the zone or the flow state” where time fades, thoughts quieten, and intuitive creation takes over. The tactile experience with the natural material wood offers not only creative engagement but also a deeper emotional connection — a sense of calmness and a moment of self-expression, inner stillness, and pure presence. Shunya is not just an object — it’s an everyday ritual. A reminder that in every beginning, and in every moment of true presence, there lies infinite potential. Note: This design is submitted only for the purposes of participating in the Only Naturals Competition. All rights of ownership of design remain with the designer Ishwa Aghara unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Category: Interior

Competitions: Home Competition 2025

Tānga | Bamboo Hangers for Earrings and Bracelets These bamboo hangers are designed as a sustainable alternative to commonly used plastic organizers for jewelry. Crafted from one of the most renewable natural materials — bamboo — they serve as an eco-conscious solution for storing earrings, bracelets, watches, and other accessories. The hangers are lightweight, compact, and designed to fit seamlessly onto standard cupboard rods, making them ideal for organizing accessories within wardrobes without occupying extra space. Their minimal yet functional form allows for easy access and visibility of jewelry, helping users stay organized in their daily routine. Unlike plastic hangers, which are mass-produced from non-renewable resources and often end up in landfills, bamboo hangers are biodegradable and have a significantly lower carbon footprint. Bamboo's strength, flexibility, and fast-growing nature make it an ideal material for creating durable, sustainable products with simple construction processes and minimal tooling. By replacing plastic with bamboo, these hangers promote responsible material use and a shift toward sustainable living, without compromising on utility or aesthetics.