“The objects, the memories, the traditions that hold us without trying.”
Welcome to the world of Foundations.
Foundations - in the simplest dictionary definition means "core" or the "base" principle on which our values and directions are established. It also stands for core key pieces which offer elevated classic silhouettes in our wardrobes. That classic denim jeans or that simple yet gorgeous handwoven organic cotton clothing piece hand printed using slow techniques.
This season we at Sui began to explore just 1 question - what does it mean to build a slow fashion brand in today's fast paced world? And then we read and researched and realised that even though the world is running, there is a craving for objects for style for aesthetics that shares warmth and craft is a huge contributor to the same.
Design in itself is having a moment when it comes to craft and old world techniques. As a brand based in Asia and rooted in India and Singapore one could say craft allows us to reclaim our identity and showcase our roots, so we can uplift artisan made clothing. But an intricate piece of hand embroidery or a shibori tie dyed on a dress does a lot more than just a sense of "wow". It stirs an emotion linked to intention to unique design and often stories.
Hence Foundations - our ode to our green heart, a journey which began in 2018 as a commitment to craft slowly to give women a chance to see the beauty of conscious clothing from a slow fashion brand in their everydays. But we do it differently so that each Sui piece reflects that unique design and becomes a proud member of your wardrobe.
INSPIRATIONS
With our designs and motifs, we explored the idea of blending everyday objects we notice around us, often inspiring us to snap or sketch that design, such as a handmade window grill or a beautiful cabinet into motifs, embroideries colours and designs - and then reimagining this idea into our Sui silhouettes.
Our goal? Draw out that quiet sense of rootedness, of knowing where you come from, to bring it into your everyday style and life, to remind you to stay slow no matter how fast the world moves around you.
The result are motifs that carry striking curves, geometrics shapes representing Delhi architecture and design, strong and elegant shapes that elevate each piece.
We bring back our signature hand and machine embroidery as well as cutwork designs to accentuate the motifs.
Our print motif is specifically inspired by iron wrought window grill patterns and floor tiles.
Our tie-dye takes a softer approach, presenting meandering lines depicting a slow path or journey across the fabric.
And we also bring back our text motifs that add warmth to each look with words in English, Urdu and Hindi.
SILHOUETTES & TEXTILES
A wardrobe of pieces made to be kept - these pieces are timeless clothing for women made to last beyond a season, carry a low environmental footprint, are made ethically by people we know and trust. Pieces you’ll reach for regularly because they work, because they feel right, because they are simply and quietly beautiful.
Not trend driven. Just intentional clothing for an intentional wardrobe.
This season, we bring back much loved bestsellers like our Sea Maxi, Waistcoat and Classic Shirt silhouettes.
While also bringing you striking new styles, ranging from everyday casual and dinner date looks to officewear.
Many of our much loved slow fabrics are back this season including:
1. Organic cotton - our organic cotton clothing ranges from classic to double gauze and twill, each variation is created without the use of pesticides and insecticides, guaranteeing a safer material to both work with and wear.
2.Handwoven organic cotton - to create these fabrics, i.e our classic handwoven OC and Kala cotton, we work with craft NGOs and communities who prioritise ethical workplaces and slow making, those being WomenWeave in Madhya Pradesh, Khamir Crafts in Kutch and Karghewale. The process is done entirely by hand, from spinning the yarns to weaving them into fabric on traditional handlooms.
3.Organic cotton denim - like our organic cotton clothing variations, no toxic chemicals are used to farm these fibres, additionally, this fabric is dyed using DyStar®️ Indigo Vat 40% Solution - A technology that transforms Indigo into its soluble Leuco form, making the process more sustainable, efficient, stable, and much safer for workers to handle.
4.Linen - light, breathable, durable, this natural fabric is made from flax plant fibres which also makes it renewable and biodegradable.
5.Lyocell - this soft and airy fabric is created with wood cellulose fibres in a sustainably efficient plantation, meaning minimal waste is created and resources are recycled back into the system if possible.
SLOW CRAFTS
A Sui look is not complete without our signature slow crafts!
Hand & Machine Embroidery
All our embroidery is crafted by our own threadspeller team based in Delhi - four dedicated makers who embroider slowly, deliberately, and with extraordinary precision. Working with both hand and machine embroidery allows us to bring intricate motifs to life on fabric, from the delicate iron grill patterns of Foundations to the floral details drawn from everyday Indian architecture. Because we embroider in small batches with a small team, our carbon footprint stays low and our quality stays high. Every stitch is accounted for. Every motif is placed with intention.
Dabu
Dabu is an ancient mud-resist printing technique where a paste of local clay, natural gums, lime and wheat chaff is hand-blocked onto fabric using carved wooden blocks. The printed cloth is then dusted with sawdust and dried in the sun before being dipped in natural indigo dye. Where the paste sits, the dye cannot reach - and once washed and revealed, the pattern emerges. Every piece carries slight variations in tone and texture. Not imperfections but proof that it was made by hand.
Shibori
Shibori is a resist-dyeing technique where the pattern is created not by printing onto fabric, but by folding, binding and manipulating it. The cloth is carefully folded and sections are tied tightly with thread before being submerged in dye. Where the binding holds, the dye cannot reach. Once dried and opened, the pattern reveals itself - delicate dots and lines that shift and vary across every piece. No two are identical. That is not a flaw. That is the whole point.
MADE WITH INTENTION
This season, we categorise our pieces through 2 edits, each presenting different tiers that range from our most affordable timeless clothing for women, best for those who have just been introduced to a slow fashion brand and are just starting to build their conscious closet, to our most considered pieces, a combination of slow fabrics and slow crafts to create a unique silhouette.
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The Rooted Edit
Our first drop that shares classic styles we made to be everyday keepsakes bringing together versatile silhouettes and foundational designs the elevated timeless clothing for women not-quite-so-basic basics.
TIER: Foundation
Sustainable fabric with machine or minimal hand embroidery. Strong fabric provenance, a relatively straightforward making process. The entry point into the Foundations world.
TIER: Foundation-Craft
Sustainable fabric with artisan surface treatment to create artisan made clothing - dabu block printing or shibori tie-dye. The craft lives on the surface rather than the weave. No two pieces are identical.
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The Heirloom Edit
Slow considered and beautifully handmade is our second drop designed to reflect heritage and imperfections in the form of design. Each piece is crafted using our handwoven textiles and high quality mill made fabrics each accentuated with slow craft such as dabu tie dye and hand embroidery.
TIER: Heritage
Handspun handwoven fabric from Khamir or WomenWeave, combined with at least one artisan process - hand embroidery, dabu mud-resist block printing or shibori tie-dye. Both the fabric and the making are fully artisan-led. The most considered pieces in the collection.
TIER: Craft
Premium natural fabric with significant embroidery, cutwork or hand detailing. A strong sustainable fabric story combined with real craft effort in the making.
We hope these new styles help you build your intentional wardrobe and give you a new appreciation for artisan made clothing.