Suryakant Rout: Crafting Life into Garments through Creativity and Dedication    

Suryakant Rout
Suryakant Raut

Success is not just a word; it is a journey comprised of hard work, hardships, failures, and dedication. Achieving one’s goals by overcoming all odds is not a cake walk. Individuals must deliver their very best to accomplish their goals. They should not give up during difficult situations; rather face them confidently.

Impactful individuals transform every challenge into an opportunity, while creating numerous prospects for others as well. One such industrious and astute personality is Suryakant Rout. He is spearheading his home furnishing brand known as ‘ikat’.

In an interview with Insights Success, Mr. Suryakant shares his professional journey, opinions, and future plans.

Below are highlights of the interview between Mr. Suryakant and Insights Success:

1- Please introduce yourself to our readers and your professional journey so far.

 My name is Suryakant Rout and I am from the east of India. I am deeply inclined towards my ethnicity and heritage as I hail from the oldest city known for its silver filigree, Cuttack. I began by journey working under the design maestro, Neeta Lulla from my second semester at Whistling Woods International (WWI). Post my graduation, I worked as an Assistant Designer for the ‘master of weaves’, Gaurang Shah and then moved on to become the Design Head for the brand, House of Neeta Lulla. Now, I have started with my home furnishing brand which incorporates ‘ikat’.

2- What inspired you to step into illustrations and fashion designing? Who were your role models growing up?

 Coming from a joint family, where we are deeply connected to one another on a personal level, I have always found joy in helping the women in my family when it comes to dressing up, from selection of sarees, to having it draped or just choosing jewellery to go with the look. I joined Whistling Woods International as a filmmaking student but gradually started inclining towards the world of design and eventually found my calling for fashion design. During my numerous visits to the library, I found myself drawn towards the fashion section and reading ‘Schiaparelli and Prada – Impossible Conversations’ by Harold Kota & Andrew Bolton, which influenced me to take the decision to pursue fashion design.

This paved my path towards the world of illustrations, pen, and paper and soon I found myself transformed from a filmmaker to a fashion designer. Shilpa Soneji, my faculty at WWI was like a true guide and friend, who became the pillar of support while I dived into the world of illustrations. She is the reason I found my personal style and I am always indebted to her for that. 

 3- Kindly share your views about the current volatile dynamics of the fashion industry and how it may have affected your projects of work, if at all.

There is always some form of volatility involved in fashion or rather any form of creative practices. I have always believed in participatory planning when it comes to any work. Everybody should have the freedom to voice their opinions. Following the trend is good, but I follow a design process that keeps me away from saturation while also making my vision strong.

I believe in maintaining a healthy chain by paying workers on time, not putting their income on hold for any personal reasons, and giving credits to every individual who has been a part of the process, while also maintaining transparency in all I do

4- We would love to know about your work on any of the fashion shows, or any other interesting projects you have worked on. Please tell our eager readers about your experiences working on the same.  

Fashion can never be boring. Every day as I head to work, I get to learn new things. My interest quotient is always high. I had a very interesting experience while working with Gaurang Shah. A part of my experience involved learning Kalamkari and that led me to design few sarees, which was completely new to me. This liberated my thoughts while I was a part of the process. Then there was a time where I explored natural dyes that were never used in Kalamkari before. This allowed me to express my art in newer colours and helped me gain efficiency in return. I remember I was sent to Srikakulam for a project and there I learnt the process of paper jamdani on Khadi. It was an eye-opener! My mind was blown! Such new techniques rendered calm and euphoria in me, simultaneously. 

5- What are the biggest challenges and struggles faced by illustration artists and fashion designers stepping into the industry?

Life is all about struggles. When you are stepping into the professional world, you need to have an open mind and be prepared for the worst. Always. That is my mantra! Some issues that I would like to highlight which would be important for freshers is to always be sure of the designation and to have an awareness of the market. Knowledge of design and development will come with time, but to never give up is the attitude. Be it illustrators or designers, there will always be a time when you would find yourself suffering from a creative block, but do not let that hamper your psyche. Be open and talk about it. Also, communication skills play an important role in your growth. Never be scared to voice your opinions or insecurities. At the end of the day, we are here to learn. Learning must never stop!

6- Kindly mention any of your awards, accolades, and accreditations.

I received the Best Garment Construction Award for my collection at Aiyanna, the fashion graduation show of Whistling Woods International and was awarded by the renowned actress Manisha Koirala.

7- Kindly tell us, what is the best part about being a fashion designer?

 The best part of being a fashion designer is that you are always evolving. You get to empower so many lives. There is a satisfaction of fulfilling collective dreams and goals. To also be a part of the process and get to know people from all the verticals is something I look forward to.

The visual stories I design allows the viewer to have their own perspective and interpretation. These things are a part of their daily lives and I get to be a part of their conscience. The best part is to make people believe in my fantasies and making their dreams come to life!

8- Please tell us about your future prospects and plans in the industry.

 ‘Future’ is a big word. But my goal as of now is to glorify ‘ikat’ and experiment with a neoteric edge. Ikat, I believe is the underdog in the world of fashion and I want to learn and spread awareness about it with visual campaigns.

I am also looking forward to collaborating with production designers to promote my textiles and craftsmanship. Odisha is the land of handloom and this collaboration would give my weavers the spotlight that they deserve and would help us to experiment more with this art form.

I am also excited about applying for the Lakme Gen Next in the near future.

Related Posts