URBAN DRAPE

Photoshoot by Mathushaa Sagthidas featuring Yaska Sahara Hirani Harji, Mehak Chandel, Hridika Nandra, Abinayaa Velaventhan, Aaliya Choudhury. Models are wearing pieces from

431-88 by Shweta Kapur styled with their own clothes and accessories.

Aaliya Choudhury

Aaliya Choudhury, 22, Assamese & Gujrati born in Dubai Aaliya is a London based creative who recently graduated from London College of Fashion. Growing up in a diverse environment, she is passionate about integrating creativity, culture and strategy in every facet of her work.

Aaliya is the co-founder of DominAsian Magazine, a platform to empower the South Asian collective through creativity. Aaliya believes that through providing a platform for the South Asian community to showcase their exceptional talents whilst amplifying their voices, we can collectively contribute to positive change for South Asians. She is currently working on various projects for Vol. 002: The New Generation which will be released in Jan 2024.

Yaska Sahara Hirani Harji

British-Indian Yaska Sahara aged 23, is a London-based curator and researcher working to decolonise the arts and fashion. Having split her childhood between Kenya, Gujarat (India) and London, she is fascinated by craft cultural heritage, as well the associated global intersections and political entanglements. After completing an MA in Fashion Critical Studies from Central Saint Martins UAL, Her work ranges from archiving, writing, educational outreach programmes, content creation, curation and modelling. She is currently co-founding an inclusive arts collective to give young artists of all backgrounds platforms to showcase their work and exchange ideas.

Abinayaa Velaventhan

Abinayaa Velaventhan, 22, British Tamil Abinayaa is a London based visitor experience assistant, creative, researcher and tour guide. She has also been classically trained in Bharatanatyam for over 10 years. During the completion of a BA in History, she grew a fascination for South Asian womens’ history, with a focus on the British imperial impact on Tamil women during Colonial Ceylon and how they were perceived by the Victorians. Currently Abinayaa gives tours to the public on art and Greenwich history, working on a heritage site as well as studying an MA in Heritage Management working closely with Historic Royal Palaces.

Mehak Chandel

Mehak Chandel, 22, Himachali/Punjabi, born in London. Mehak is a London based model and dancer. She is deeply committed to celebrating her British-Indian heritage through her work; seamlessly blending the two identities together through a recent achievement as a Miss England Semi-Finalist. Her portfolio boasts collaborations with renowned brands like Garnier and Charles Fish, as well as smaller businesses like DomnoVintage and HollyBlocks to support sustainable fashion. She has performed with BollywoodDanceSchool UK at diverse events, including but not limited to Rangeelu Gujurat, the BP offices, and Godiva Festival. Beyond her artistry, she holds a BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice-focusing on the intersectionality of oppression faced by women in India in her dissertation, to shed light on critical societal issues. Currently, Mehak is engaged in fundraising for ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ and ‘PAPYRUS’, whilst continuing to model.

Hridika Nandra

Hridika is a Punjabi London based journalist, presenter, host and model, dancer and swimming teacher. With a captivating presence and a passion for storytelling, Hridika has graced esteemed platforms such as BBC Breakfast, Sunday Morning Live, and the acclaimed BBC documentary "Bhangra or Bust." She has also been featured in publications like i-D magazine, Selin, and Mob Journal, has carried out a number of celebrity interviews including the likes of Salman Khan, Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson, hosted her own TV show and docu-series as well as reported the commonwealth games, during her final year of undergraduate studies. Hridika's portfolio extends beyond media, having collaborated with renowned entities like Getty Images, and Bentley Motors. Hridika's journey into the world of journalism and media began while pursuing her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Marketing. Her profound curiosity led her to explore the intricate psychology of her South Asian community. Carrying out research studies delving into the impact of Eurocentric beauty standards on South Asians and the interplay of cultural and religious beliefs on their consumer behaviours. After going on to complete her MA in TV Journalism at City University, Hridika is on a mission to break boundaries and challenge taboos within South Asian culture. She is dedicated to curating unforgettable experiences and harnessing the transformative power of storytelling to amplify voices that deserve to be heard.

Commissioned by FRIDAY SARI PROJECT @fridaysariproject : SHEWTA KAPUR @shwetakapur SHOT BY MATHUSHAA SAGTHIDAS @mathuxphotos

Styled by Mehala Ford @mehala_ford (founded @fridaysariproject and @commonground_and) and Mathushaa Sagthidas @mathuxphotos 

Draping and accessories by Mehala Ford @mehala_ford (founded @fridaysariproject and @commonground_and)

Talent featured Abinayaa Velaventhan @nxyaa.b ; Mehak Chandel @mehakk.c ; Hridika Nandra @hridikanandra ; Yaska Sahara Hirani Harji @yaska_sahara and Aaliya Choudhury @aaliya.choudhury

Hair and makeup by the talent