Broken is Beautiful: Streetwear as a Story of Scars and Strength
Minaz Shaikh - B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design 2022
Minaz Shaikh’s Broken is Beautiful Fall/Winter street collection interprets emotional vulnerability into dangerous fashion. From the metaphysics of kintsugi—the Japanese pottery art of repairing broken ceramics to former glory with gold—Minaz fearlessly explores imperfection as strength, and invites wearers to stay strong, think it through, and celebrate their scars as selves.
Each work in the series is a visual witness to healing. Ripped denim, tears, and exposed stitching are not signs of wear, but deliberate design elements that symbolise emotional wounds and experience. Gold embellishments, which evoke the golden joins of kintsugi, trace these “cracks” with reverence, turning trauma into triumph and embracing flaws as features.
The silhouettes of this collection embody a powerful narrative that symbolise internal tension in oversized, flowing shapes that represent the concept of release and freedom. This interplay between constraint and liberation mirrors the journey of healing: it begins with one gradually embracing vulnerability, and ultimately culminates in the release of past burdens.
The textile choices in this collection are equally evocative. Dark indigo-wash denim serves as the foundation, reflecting a melancholic, introspective mood—one of deep reflection and inner strength. Subtle gold accents—whether in threadwork, foil, or hardware—pierce through the darkness, representing moments of clarity, healing, and pride, like flashes of realisation that shine amidst adversity.
“Broken is Beautiful” resonates deeply with the theme “Pause” by encouraging us to pause in the quest for perfection and embrace our own imperfections. This collection is an emotional and conceptual expression that transcends fashion, speaking directly to the soul. It invites one to reflect, to sit with their flaws, and to find beauty in the journey of healing.
Lanchana Nanda pulled off a sneaky genius: she made the old-school Malnad comfort totally blend with current-day design smarts. Nothing clashes. Nothing feels forced. You get this spot that makes you think “hmm, am I in a boutique retreat or someone’s ancestral home?”