Designer Patricia Emma Fernandez Ortiz spent 12 years living in Calcutta, where she discovered her passion for design. So, when she recently showcased at Moscow Fashion Week, her collection clearly reflected her inspiration and experiences living in the country. With hand embroidery, mirror work, and traditional techniques like zardozi embroidery thoughtfully reinterpreted within a contemporary Western framework, the pieces suggested heritage while remaining modern and globally attuned.Talking about how Indian craft influenced her collection, the designer shared, “I lived in Calcutta for 12 years, and in fact, that’s where it all started for me professionally as a designer and where I discovered my passion for design. I initially started designing handcrafted furniture and then set up an interior design studio in Calcutta. Only after I moved back to Spain did I venture into fashion. It has now been two years since I started my fashion brand, Madame&Mister Sibarita. India has not only been very important in my professional life but even more so in my personal life. My twins were born in Calcutta to a Bengali father, and I consider myself half Indian at heart. India has been a major part of my journey as an individual and will always have a special place in my collections. It will always serve as an inspiration and a tribute to the beautiful culture and everything it has taught me in life.”
Organza and chinon lend lightness and allow silhouettes to unfold naturally
Talking about how Indian craft influenced her collection, the designer shared, “I lived in Calcutta for 12 years, and in fact, that’s where it all started for me professionally as a designer and where I discovered my passion for design
The collection was guided by pure, sustainable materials and quiet refinement, with natural fabrics defining the season.“Organza and chinon lend lightness and allow silhouettes to unfold naturally; silk, bemberg, and bamboo bring fluidity and softness, while vegan tomato leather adds subtle structure. Each textile was chosen for how it interacts with the body – how it breathes, shifts, and settles. Hand embroidery and mirror work were applied with restraint, allowing craftsmanship to speak through texture and light,” added the designer.The color palette emerged from nature and light: warm sand for serenity, ivory for a morning glow, muted olive for living landscapes, and amber and sunlit gold for dusk warmth. Corals and aqua green were also featured.
The designer also pointed out that production is 100% handmade, mostly in Calcutta
The designer also pointed out that production is 100% handmade, mostly in Calcutta.“We do work with some artisans in other parts of India as well, but Bengal is our core manufacturing base,” she said.
