Sakshi’s passion for fashion design emerged naturally. “Towards the end of my 10th standard, I was very sure I wanted to pursue it,” she says. Despite family pressures to take a safer path in commerce, she prepared for two years and got into NIFT Hyderabad, where she fell in love with knitwear design by the third semester.

Her current collection is deeply personal, inspired by her father’s passing two years ago. “The grief part is still ongoing,” she shares. “I wanted to create a collection that helps people validate their feelings and find strength in their grief.” She drew inspiration from the stages of a broken pot being reconstructed with golden lining, symbolising growth and resilience.

Sakshi faced significant challenges, particularly in finding skilled artisans for her first collection. “The people I was working with were not as skilled in finishing as seen in the couture market,” she explains. Despite this, her dedication saw her working from 5:30 AM to 7:30 PM daily. “It was all motivating, and those three months went smoothly.”

Her collection features techniques like hand knitting, crochet, and flat hand knits, using recycled and organic yarns such as banana yarns, polyester yarns, alpaca, merino, and cotton. “No plastics were used; the sequins are metal or glass,” she notes, emphasising sustainability.

A typical day for Sakshi recently shifted from resting after graduation to intense activity. “I got the confirmation from GenNext and the last few days have been crazy,” she concludes, reflecting on her whirlwind journey to the prestigious platform.