03/07/2026
āDvandvaā by Neetha Unnikrishnan
A Sanskrit term, āDvandvaā is a pair of opposites that exist as equals. In its linguistic sense, a dvandva compound joins two independent words without subordinating one to the other. In a broader philosophical sense, it reflects cosmic duality, opposing forces held in balance within the same whole. This collection explores the dual nature of the living world, where structure and wildness, law and force, coexist within the same system.
Blending South Asian sari textiles and fashion with Western style and silhouettes, the collection brings together two design languages in tension. In doing so, it reclaims aesthetics often relabeled as ābohoā or āethnicā despite their South Asian origins, reframing them within a consciously blended South Asian and Western context. The two looks, Dvandva Lex and Dvandva Vis, share embellishment, structural references, and reclaimed elements, yet diverge in silhouette, colour, and energy. Lex is darker and more severe, incorporating visible references to Fibonacci and other mathematical principles that underpin organic growth and anatomical segmentation. Vis moves more fluidly and instinctively, embracing asymmetry, layered draping, and textural overgrowth that feels alive and evolving.
Together they express life as both calculated and unpredictable. Ordered yet chaotic. Opposites, but equal.
Designer: Neetha Unnikrishnan
Models: Isabelle Poisson .poisson and Eunsae Lee
Photographer: Li Asmane .li.asmane
H&M Artists: Elsie Zhang and Neetha Unnikrishnan
