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Swati S. Argade Age 46

Berkeley, CA | Oakland, CA | Chapel Hill, NC

Indian-American designer Swati Argade chooses fabrics and embroideries for her clothing designs that help to sustain the maintenance and development of local economies and ancient traditions like weaving, embroidery, and dyeing. She has traveled all over India sourcing items from artisan cooperatives like ajrakh (indigo block printing technique) from Kucch, Gujurat, ikkat saris from Orissa, fine muslin from West Bengal, and khadi from Metpalli, Andhra Pradesh. "It became very important to me early on that my clothes had to be made with the producers and their history in mind. Their skill and participation are making this endeavor possible. The artisans, weavers and tailors are as much a part of the production chain as I am." Raised in the American South, she was trained as a dancer specializing in Bharata Natyam. She moved to New York in 1997 and gained recognition with her twin sister for their story-dances at such venues as the Asia Society, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Rubin Museum of Art and the Kitchen. Swati's career in fashion began as a costume designer, initially making costumes for her own performances, and then for other dance, film, and theater productions. Swati's clothing appeals to a wide range of personal styles, blending ethnic and bohemian aesthetics with an urban refinement and sophistication. Her collections are known for incorporating hand-woven fabrics with classic and tailored silhouettes. In 2007, she launched her eco-friendly jersey line SHIFT BY SWATI made from modal printed with graphic and traditional prints in playful and easy silhouettes. In 2008, Indian retail giant FabIndia commissioned her to create a youthful and contemporary collection that marries Indian cooperative textile with the spirit of the modern Indian woman. In Spring 2010, Swati will launch a raincoat line called bhoomi made from recycled bottles, post-consumer waste and organic cotton.