Artist-activist Kalki Subramaniam to launch clothing line to raise funds to fight HIV

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
May 10, 2022

Artist and activist Kalki Subramaniam has created a capsule line of sarees featuring her artwork and will officially launch the collection at an event in Chennai this June as part of Pride Month celebrations. 

Subramaniam posted a teaser image of one of the vibrant sarees on her Facebook page as she prepares to launch the collection online on her website following the upcoming Chennai showcase. When the sarees retail, 40% of the proceeds will be donated to support people who are HIV positive, according to the designer. 
 
“For more than 10 years, I have been using digital art as part of the work done by the Sahodari Foundation,” Subramaniam told the Times of India. “For more than an year, I have been thinking of printing my artwork on clothes. Most of it is very vibrant as I favour fluorescent colours and use almost every shade in the palette. Several people have wanted to own these clothes.”

The line is set to launch in the third week of June and the Chennai showcase will be followed by one in Kochi then in Bengaluru. Subramaniam plans to cast a diverse array of models for the events to promote inclusivity. Later in the year, the designer plans to launch the line internationally.  
 
“I will first experiment with saree as I find them to be the most beautiful costume in the world and later bring out scarves and gowns,” said Subramaniam. “I will start with my paintings of Frieda (Kahlo) and Sridevi. Both are iconic women who died young. This is my tribute to these legends.”