Half-and-Half — Archita's Portfolio

Half-and-Half 2025

A fashion collection and publication celebrating the in-betweens.

Half-and-Half is a visual ode to the in-betweens, to those who exist across cultures and communities. The fashion collection is born from a space that exists between the past and the present, traditions and trends, East and West. This project was designed for Gen Z Indians who want to participate in global fashion while celebrating their roots.

The Garments

Heritage textiles meet fashion-forward silhouettes, reflecting a design philosophy that is both mindful and playful. Each of the three looks has been self-designed and sewn using small-batch cotton fabrics sourced from India. Designed to mould to the wearer, the pieces are adjustable, sustainable, and serve as a canvas for expression and experimentation.

Cloth, thread, and nothing else.

Art Direction

The direction for this project cherishes the intimacy of female friendships, as well as the intricacies of living in between places. A mixture of photographic techniques was utilised to create modern imagery that responds to the zeitgeist’s thirst for nostalgia.

Set Design

Set design blends Indian influences within a Western context. The inclusion of cake, chips, and samosa, a meal typical of birthday parties in the early 2000s, is a powerful emotional throwback for the audience.

On theme, I illustrated the artwork that can be seen in the frames, blending traditional Indian art styles with feminine Western motifs.

Butterfly in Pattachitra Style

Block-print inspired pattern featuring stars

Digitally created Ikat Textile Pattern

Illustration of Jasmine, a flower strongly associated with Indian femininity

Block-print inspired pattern featuring stars

Heart Motif inspired by Block-Printed Textiles

Publication

The publication blends thoughtful fashion with vulnerable prose. Through stories of adjustment, identity, and friendship, it captures the beauty found in the in-betweens.

Social Media

The clothes were captured in various settings to showcase their versatility. Music accompanies the videos to create a cinematic feel for the Instagram reels. The social media feed is an ongoing project and can be found here @archie.sews

The Process

This collection was developed over the span of five months, utilising primary and secondary data. The primary data collected was both quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (focus groups). This data informed my garment design process, enabling me to create designs that are both visually stunning and commercially viable.

Let’s work together!

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