Brand
23°N.69°E is a clothing brand based in India. 23°N.69°E believes Indian textile has a lot to offer to the world and is still left unexplored. The focus has been to create a fusion of contemporary designs and traditional crafts of Kachchh, Gujarat. The possibilities are endless and one just needs to revisit them, especially the rural villages in India where traditions and crafts are still organically functioning just like the olden times. As young practicing designers, it's our duty to preserve and present these beautiful crafts and textiles of India to the world with a more futuristic and evolved approach. Bringing together the craft techniques and practises of India, the aim is to elevate the possibilities with each step. The brand also adheres in learning together and growing together. While you intake knowledge from the artisans, it's also important to give them something in return too. Artisans today are very open to learn and experiment with their traditional practices and therefore it enabled 23°N.69°E to explore and experiment with the craft to the fullest. Every collection created, has its own story and each piece is hand painted and hand block printed using the age old craft technique of ajrak block print using 100% natural dyes. All the fabrics are sourced locally from the artisans of Kachchh, to maintain a supporting structure for them while also balancing the value chain of the brand.
Designer
Anas Sheikh is a practicing textile artist and founder of clothing brand 23°N.69°E. He graduated with a B.A. honors in Fashion design from Indian Institute of Art and Design in 2020, based out of New Delhi. His interests towards the craftsmanship of Ajrakh block prints ignited during his internship with the artisans in Kachchh, Gujarat, which deeply influenced his style of working since. He believes the real undertaking should involve hands-on experience while integrating oneself with the surround- ings and lifestyle of these artisans. In 2020, 23°N.69°E successfully launched its first collection in collaboration with Sidr craft and Khalid Amin which also resulted in the brand's collaboration with Victoria and Albert's museum, in London. The contemporary artworks of the brand are the voice of the garments which were the result of the ongoing in depth research of the craft and understanding since 2020. 23°N.69°E has launched 3 collections by now, and the designer focuses on introducing new elements with each collection and challenging its possibilities. He spends most of his time in Kachchh, in order to take in and belong to the surroundings of these artisans while also becoming a part of their textile experiments. The designer aims to continue these practices with artisans and bring in more crafts under 23°N.69°E with the same visionary for many years to come.
