What is the name of your brand and what does it stand for?

The Open Form stands for our belief that fabric and form are inseparable - one cannot exist without the other. We're constantly challenging the conventional separation between the two, creating clothing where the fabric and form move together, shaping one another.

At its core, The Open Form is rooted in Indian crafts. We work with hand embroidery and artisanal textiles not as traditions locked in the past, but as living practices that carry the imprint of the maker's hand. Every piece is made slowly and intentionally, combining conscious fabrics with timeless techniques, so it feels personal, enduring, and deeply human.

When was it founded, and what inspired its beginning?

The Open Form started in 2021 with a simple observation: most clothes felt restrictive, trend-driven, or disconnected from real women's lives. There was little that spoke to all body types, or that brought handcrafted techniques like embroidery into a modern context.

We set out to change that. Working with conscious fabrics and Indian crafts, The Open Form creates clothing that is functional, handmade, and rooted in detail---pieces made to move with you, not against you.

What makes your brand uniquely Indian?

What makes The Open Form uniquely Indian is our relationship with craft. We work with hand embroidery, handwoven textiles, and traditional techniques that have been part of India's cultural fabric for centuries. But we don't treat them as heritage locked in the past---we reimagine them for the present, creating clothing that feels global yet deeply rooted.

Our Indianness lies in the hands that make each piece, in the time it takes to embroider a motif, in the irregularities of fabric woven on a loom. It's in the philosophy of slow making, where imperfection is not hidden but celebrated.

Do you have any personal connection to the craft, textile, or region your brand represents?

Yes, very much so. Growing up in India, I was surrounded by textiles that were part of everyday life - cotton that softened with age, silks that marked celebrations, and embroideries that carried memory through every stitch. Those impressions stayed with me. When I began The Open Form, I wanted to bring that same intimacy into clothing that felt relevant today. The choice to work with handcrafted techniques and conscious fabrics isn't just aesthetic; it's personal. It's about honoring what I grew up with, while shaping it into something that speaks to modern women everywhere.

The Team & People Behind the Brand

Can you tell us about the team behind your label?

The Open Form is a small, tightly knit team built around handcraft. Design and creative direction are led by our founder, Divisha Sharma, while our production is anchored by skilled artisans---2 tailors and hand embroiderers - who bring each piece to life. We collaborate closely with weaving clusters and embroidery specialists across India whenever a collection calls for specific craft techniques.

On the business side, marketing and brand building are managed by our founder, with support from external partners where needed. As we grow, the idea is to expand carefully, building a team that shares the same commitment to craft, form, and conscious practices

Craftsmanship & Textiles

What kinds of textiles, weaving, dyeing, or embroidery techniques does your brand use?

At The Open Form, we work primarily with handwoven textiles such as khadi, silk, and linen---fabrics that carry irregularities and textures only possible when made by hand. Embroidery is central to our practice, often placed in unexpected ways to shift how a garment is experienced. We also explore surface techniques like kalamkari and traditional hand-dyeing methods

Are the materials locally sourced or organic/natural?

Yes, our materials are locally sourced, made using natural fibres.

Values & Practices

How do sustainability, slow fashion, or ethical practices show up in your brand?

Sustainability at The Open Form begins with intention. We create outside of trend cycles, designing garments meant to be worn, re-worn, and treasured as personal archives rather than disposable fashion. For us, sustainability isn't a label - it's built into how we work. Every piece is made in small batches, with time given to hand embroidery and handwoven fabrics rather than fast production. We use natural, conscious textiles like khadi, silk, and linen, which are durable and age beautifully with wear. Equally important are the people behind the clothes. Our garments are made in close collaboration with artisans and a small team of makers, ensuring fair working conditions and a slower, more intentional pace of production.We see slow fashion not as a trend, but as a return to clothing that feels personal - pieces that are lived in, repaired, and valued, rather than replaced. That's where ethical practice and design meet for us.

How do you approach production?

Our approach to production is intentionally small and considered. We create in limited batches and work on a made-to-order basis, ensuring that every piece has a purpose and nothing is produced in excess. Patterns are thoughtfully cut to minimise waste, and leftover fabric is repurposed wherever possible. This slow process allows us to respect the craft,reduce unnecessary impact, and ensure each garment is finished with the care it deserves.

Who is the muse or ideal wearer of your designs?

The Open Form doesn't imagine a single muse. Our clothes are for women who value ease and strength, who want craft to feel modern and wearable in everyday life. For us, it's less about age or type, and more about a mindset: women who see clothing as personal, intentional, and quietly powerful.

Your India

What does Made in India or Born in India mean to you personally?

For us, Made in India isn't a tagline---it's a way of making. Every piece at The Open Form is shaped through handwork that has existed here for centuries---whether it's embroidery, weaving, or fabric that still carries the trace of the maker's touch. But being Born in India is not about nostalgia. It's about asking: how do these crafts live with us today? How do they move from heritage into daily life, not as museum artifacts but as clothes that women actually wear---while working, travelling, or simply being themselves?

For us, the value of these crafts lies in their ability to adapt, to hold history and still feel modern.

Are there specific regions, traditions, or experiences that influence your work?

At The Open Form, our work is deeply tied to Indian craft traditions, especially hand embroidery and hand weaving. These techniques come from regions where skill is still passed down by hand, creating textiles with a sense of intimacy and individuality that machines can't replicate. We also look to cultural practices that shape how women in India have dressed for centuries---wearing a bindi, placing flowers in their hair, layering jewelry. These everyday gestures carry the same spirit as the crafts themselves. For us, they're reminders that tradition isn't separate from modern life---it's already part of it. The Open Form builds on that idea, bringing Indian handwork into clothing that feels relevant in contemporary wardrobes around the world.

Looking Ahead

What is your vision for the future of your brand?

The vision for The Open Form is to place Indian craft in dialogue with the modern world. We want to move beyond treating hand embroidery and weaving as heritage locked in the past, and instead, show their relevance in everyday wardrobes globally. In the years ahead, we see The Open Form growing as a cultural brand---one that doesn't just sell clothing, but creates conversations around form, fabric, and craft. Our focus is on building collections that feel personal and lived-in, while continuing to collaborate with artisans and expand their work into new contexts.

Ultimately, the goal is to make The Open Form part of a larger movement: where clothing is not just worn, but experienced---where craft is not preserved, but lived.

Any exciting launches, collaborations, or growth plans ahead?

Yes, we're working on new collections that continue to experiment with form, hand embroidery, and handwoven textiles - finding ways for these crafts to exist in wardrobes beyond occasion wear. Alongside this, we're looking to increase our retail presence through partnerships with select multi-brand stores and concept spaces.

Collaborations are also a focus for us - working with like-minded platforms and cultural voices who share our vision of craft as modern and relevant. For us, growth isn't about mass scale but about building the right ecosystems and spaces where The Open Form can live as both clothing and cultural dialogue.