Sh AhI
FASHION PORTFOLIO KARAMJOT KAUR
ShAhI
DESIGN STATEMENT
Shahi is a transeasonal eveningwear collection that merges Punjabi culture and heritage with contemporary fashion. The name Shahi, meaning “royal” in Punjabi, reflects the collection’s refined aesthetic and emphasis on elegance. Innovative silhouettes are paired with reimagined traditional forms such as the salwaar and lahenga through creative and considered patternmaking and draping. Shahi, mainly crafted in wool and silk, is intended to create movement and fluidity in each garment. Draping and ribcage-inspired textures accentuate the body’s natural curves, while custom brooches, crocheted metal and customised jewellery, bring a modern interpretation of cultural craftsmanship. This collection also uses unique fabrication like bias cut merino jersey in an eveningwear skirt, and hand piped henna onto spandex mesh. Each piece is created through Shahi embodies a dialogue between tradition and modernity, celebrating heritage through design that feels both regal and contemporary.
The colour palette is called ceremony, which is fitting as Shahi intends to have a ceremonious feel. This colour pallette features rust orange, navy blue, gold, red, plum, olive green, and grey (Spring 2014). These colours are also directly aligned with Indian culture, as they are used in majority of traditional items and clothing. The hand piped mehendi patterns and customised and repurposed gajras (traditional hair pieces), that are featured in part of this collection also directly align with Indian culture, and they are put into a contemporary context.
The select target market is young women and men that are looking for an elegant and sophisticated look that blends the traditional with contemporary silhouettes and unique textures, honing in on the current trends of sheer, layers and textures seen on designer runways like the recent Romance Was Born, Schiaparelli, and Jean Paul Gaultier collections. Shahi is for the people adept with fashion and who like to feel like a royal when they dress up (16 Personalities 2025).
Rani
Grace Merino Lurex
99% Merino
1% lurex
100% Lyocell
100% Polyester
Lyocell Twill
Silk Dupion
100% Silk
Crinoline
Silk Dupion 100% Silk
Spandex mesh 90% Nylon 10% Spandex
Cotton Gabardine 100% Cotton
Heer
Wool Crepe
wool
Noor
Lyocell Twill
100% Lyocell
Spandex mesh
Mehendi print
90% Nylon
10% Spandex
Raja
Pleated mesh 100% Polyester
Waterproof nylon 100% Nylon
Accessory Design
Instagram: @by_karam_manan
Email: karamjot_manan@yahoo.com.au
LinkedIn: Karamjot Kaur
About
Karamjot Kaur is a Sydney-based contemporary fashion designer whose practice blends traditional and historical influences with modern design. Drawing on her Punjabi heritage, she reinterprets cultural silhouettes through a contemporary lens, embracing the natural curves of the body using her love of draping and patternmaking in order to create garments that are both elegant and empowering. Working primarily with natural fibres such as silk and wool, Karamjot integrates organic textures, embellishments, and colours inspired by nature. Her design philosophy celebrates the harmony between heritage and innovation, guided by a belief in slow fashion, immersive experiences, and timeless design as the foundation for the future of fashion.
Credits
Karamjot Kaur (@by_karam_manan)
Fashion Design, Patternmaking, Construction, Print Development. Print Design, Fabric Printing, Draping, Textile Development, Tech Sketches, Fashion Illustrations, Fabric Sourcing, Digital Editing, Design Development, Accessory Design, Accessory Construction, Graphics and Layout, Editing, Casting, Logistics, Creative Direction, Styling
PHOTOGRAPHY
Anderson Kellen ( @andersonkellenn), Ava Robinson (@avaclementine222), Annabelle Maddenn (@annabellemaddenn)
MODELS
Sharni Wood (@sharni_wood), Sita Goodsir-Cullen (@goodsir._), Peter Szczepaniak (@ peter.szc), Ives Chisman-Duffy (@icd.byives)
Whitehouse Institute Of Design, Australia
