A stylish homage to the sea's endless depths, ethereal beauty

Wetsuits sourced from a dive shop in New York and transformed into garments and bags with the help of collaborator Christian Olarte. Whispers in the Current's innovative approach to sustainability earned recognition at design awards for its recycled materials and social impact

‘Whispers in the Current’ is not just a fashion collection, but a heartfelt tribute to the ocean's mesmerising beauty. Talking to Bizz Buzz, Avantika Malhotra, the designer, says, “This collection is a reflection of my deep-rooted connection to the sea, a connection that has been a constant presence in my life. I wanted to capture the essence of the underwater world - the fluidity, the tranquility, and the mysteries that lie beneath the surface.”

For Avantika, the ocean has been a lifelong muse, weaving through her memories and experiences. Growing up as the daughter of a merchant navy veteran and a master mariner Captain Vikrant Malhotra, Avantika has called coastal States of India like Maharashtra, Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, etc, her home. Her passion for scuba diving, which began at eleven and led to her achieving an advanced open-water certification at fifteen, further deepened her bond with the sea. The dichotomous nature of the ocean, capable of soothing and disturbing, became the focal point of her collection. Through Whispers in the Current, Avantika aims to explore the ocean's captivating power and initiate conversations on personal comfort zones, drawing on her own experiences of scuba diving as a conduit for this message.

The design process behind Whispers in the Current is one of creativity and collaboration. "Wetsuits served as the cornerstone of this collection, providing both structural integrity and a unique textural element," explains Avantika. "I sourced used, damaged wetsuits that were going to get thrown out from a dive shop in Chelsea, New York.”

Avantika collaborated with friend and fellow designer, Christian Olarte on the accessories for the collection. Together they transformed these old wetsuits into bags. This innovative approach to sustainability earned Whispers in the Current recognition at the 2023 Muse Design Awards, where it won in the ‘recycled/sustainable fashion’ category, as well as a 2023 NY Product Design Award in the ‘designs for social impact’ category.

Recycled fashion is no easy feat; to transform something worth discarding into something worth keeping requires innovation and resilience. Malhotra reminisces about the challenging eight-month design journey of Whispers in the Current. One of the wetsuits sourced for the collection proved too thick for machine sewing; as a result one of the bags had to be entirely hand-stitched. “We adapted our approach to collaborate with the material rather than compete against it”.

Moreover, the collection defied traditional fashion categories, earning acclaim at the Muse Design Awards, NY Product Design Awards, and International Design Awards in categories such as ‘Prêt-à-porter’, ‘sportswear’, ‘swimwear & accessories’, and ‘beachwear’. With a total of eight awards to its name, Whispers in the Current not only exemplifies sustainability but also embodies innovation and reinvention.

This collection reflects Avantika's dedication to pushing the boundaries of design while staying true to her ethos of creating fashion that sparks meaningful dialogue and encourages personal reflection.