Lusano Zakiesato from Nagaland is the Fashion Designer of your Dreams

Lusano of ‘Lusano Designs’ has come a long way since she started her label in 2014. Her first international show, a bridal show, was held in Abu Dhabi in 2016. She was also selected to show case her designs for IRW India Runway Week season 3 under the IFFD ( Indian Federation of Fashion Design council). Today we have chat with her to know more about how it all started.

Photo : Fashion Designer Lusano Zakiesato

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Born and brought in Nagaland, I completed my schooling from Delhi, and then went on to finish my fashion designing course from INIFD (International Institute of Fashion Design), Delhi. After that, I signed up for an additional month of pattern making course as I am fascinated with how the details of patterns can change the whole garment.

Your key inspirations behind your designs?

I started working on my brand collection (well actually just ‘my collection’ since I didn’t plan on a ‘Brand’ yet ) in my final year at INFID. At that time, my designs were inspired by anything and everything that caught my attention – nothing specific.

I’ve always had a strong love for Indian textiles (from day 1) – and that has played a key role in helping me set the canvas for my designs. Every time I see a new type of textile/pattern (of Indian textile), I would fall in love with it – and that is precisely what I try to re-create in my clothes – my love affair with Indian textiles and patterns.

How did you go about designing your first collection?

By the time I finished my course I had a collection of about 70 pieces ready. That’s when I thought it would be a good idea to launch my own Label: LUSANO DESIGNS. It was launched in September of 2014 – with a mixed collection of pret Indian, ethnic and boho.

LUSANO DESIGNS | First Collection, 2014

What is the theme behind LUSANO DESIGNS?

LUSANO DESIGNS is a label for women clothing – focusing on contemporary bridal and Indo western garments; but of course, I love to experiment with unique themes every once in a while – which you can see in my latest collection (launched Oct, 2017).

“I want women to love themselves when they wear my design and spread the love!”

I also have a special interest in the making of kaftans and capes. I like to call myself an experimental designer as I love experimenting with different cuts, drapes and play with textures. I’m always learning and having fun.The core idea of my design is the fact that I love experimenting with my designs especially drapings and textiles. My designs might not always be on trend with every season because I keep changing it but I definitely make sure each design has its own style.

Tell us about your latest collection – that was recently launched this Oct of 2017.

My latest collection is called ‘the Easy- Breezy’. It’s a collection of ready-to-wear garments. This collection is different from my earlier ones – since this time, the emphasis was on sustainable fashion. I tend to use a lot of embroideries, cut piece materials of gorgeous colors and various textures (collected mostly from places like export houses) and more add-ons from my odd collection of waste fabrics.

What I see in these wastes (because they are too small to be used elsewhere) – is the art and the hard work of many hours of labor from talented craftsmen and embroiderers. So I decided to use them in my new collection – which you can see embellished as beautiful hand embroidered flowers. This is inline with my empahsis on Sustainable fashion and fun & friendly resort wear.

The overall theme is resort- friendly wear. Also to keep up with the fast-changing trends – that changes every half a season, I designed a few pieces in such a way that, they can be styled for any season as well.