A colourful illustration of a woman holding a hair dryer and a mirror.

Illustration in Dhamaka by Disha Khurana - MA Fashion Journalism and Content Creation 2024 | London College of Fashion | UAL

London College of Fashion

UAL Showcase Collections

Past, Present, Future

ace rahman and maria ayoob dressed in coordinating outfits, with a long inter-connected braided hair structure by raahat peshwaria. 

&#39;Ghar&#39; is an urdu word which means &#39;home&#39; or &#39;house&#39;. In South Asian culture, the home is considered a sacred place and is typically associated with warmth, comfort, and love. This project aims to hit close to home, especially to those of south asian descent by exploring themes of nostalgia.&quot;This piece reimagines the nostalgia of South Asian photo albums, with a mix of old and new, which makes us all want to find our parents albums and flick through them.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Ghar

3 people hold out their palms on a pillow. Their have henna designs  with heart details on their palms.

This project explores the hues of henna from powder to natural stain through colour, art and culture, reflecting the artist&#39;s memories and thoughts of this art and medium.&quot;It’s a reminder that henna art is more than weddings – and the exploration of the process is vital in seeing that. I love seeing the progression of henna art around me, and this is a great depiction of that very movement.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

THE COLOURS OF HENNA

A woman stands, her exceptionally long hair extending far onto the floor. 

This project looks at women existing within a metaphorical boundary yet also challenging it through the medium of sculptural hair designs, makeup and storytelling by explore the ideological constructs associated with women in traditional patriarchal societies.&quot;The striking and complex arrangements of hair and nature creates a strong visual of what women are expected to be, while inviting complexity. All this while taking note of the importance of hair in our culture.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Personages

This is a communication tactic presented as a short film created for the Islamic streetwear brand Saeedah Haque, a brand that uses fashion as its tool for disruption, activism and community, with an overarching aim of making space for Muslim women.&quot;An important piece of art that adds nuance to a westernised idea of what Muslim women should say, do and look like. It truly breaks down misconceptions, in a way of celebration.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Welcome to the Resistance

Left: Back view of a woman wearing an outfit with block print running through its middle. Right: The woman facing the camera.

This is a Palestinian fashion brand that intends to portray innovative and timeless designs while also drawing attention to an important issue in the world. &quot;The use of Tatreez, fabric and streetwear elevates this Palestinian artist’s work. It is accessible and timeless – a combination that is difficult to capture.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Yasمين 

The slide features two photographs featuring look 2 and 3 from the collection 

This collection aims to bridge the gap between Indian and Western cultures and reimagines traditional Indian garment archetypes, challenging the conservative notions of femininity typically associated with them. &quot;A combination I never considered or thought I would enjoy, but one of my favourite pieces is this combination of femininity from sari’s and masculinity from cowboy culture.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

'FLIGHT SAARI'

A group of 6 teenage rappers out in the streets of Delhi

This project looks at the emergence of the hip-hop subculture in the South Asian diaspora and how it has affected the younger generation and the fashion industry in India.&quot;An interesting delve into South Asian hip hop culture – and the counter-culture – revealing the intricacies of art in India itself. Western depictions always disregard this – the fact that cultures are more than their stereotypes.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Versatile

This project explores launguage, identity and homesickness.&quot;The stunning imagery of people alongside fabric with language that flies around them, gives a sense of holding on to your roots – whether you are a first, second or third immigrant, when you are away from the motherland, it’s easy for our language to fly away from us.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

ཤྭ་མ་ལུང་། Shanma Lung

Posters for The Naan Issue with wordplay jokes 

Through an intimate dinner conversation of a close-knit group of cousins, this project delves into the complexities of cultural norms, fashion, identity, and the search for home for the Indian diaspora.&quot;A fun and exciting film about the Indian diaspora, meeting to catch up, but beyond this we see how interesting and diverse each person is. From their art to their problems.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

The Naan Issue

An annual print publication and online community exploring masking and costume with a focus on the implementation of masking in the 21st century and find the correlation to current practices and phenomena. &quot;A magazine that looks into a subject matter that really needs more airtime – deception and anonymity. It’s beautifully crafted.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

MASK

This project explores the contemporary South Asian food culture in London and aims to unearth topics beyond the conventional &#39;chicken tikka masala&#39; with aspects of the food culture that have been overshadowed.&quot;Food being important in South Asian cultures is a side note, as the main character is every single dish in this magazine.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Bhaaji

dhamaka magazine with some of its pages displayed.

This project explores South Asian culture and nightlife and the huge cultural shift that was brought about in the 80s through the Underground Bhangra Movement, and other parallel cultural experiences that are often overlooked by mainstream society and cultural outlets.&quot;A beautifully crafted magazine about South Asian nightlife – a phenomenon that has been around since I was young, but has since evolved and grown in a louder and more accessible way.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

dhamaka

This project focuses on the changing landscape of wellness, placing great significance on self-care and preventive healthcare to meet evolving consumer needs by delving into the often-overlooked realm of foot health. &quot;An innovative and beautifully designed ‘shoe’ to target and stimulate acupressure points on your feet is quite genius – I adore finding ways to enhance our wellbeing through traditional practises.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride

Knot to Wear

Back view of a trench coat with colourful embroidery on it

This project is an exploration into the fusion of traditional Indian craft and textile techniques with the dynamic landscape of the 2024 market.&quot;Embroidery is something that has lived within Indian culture forever, and seeing it brought to life in modern clothing is a delight. The colour and design are perfect.&quot;– Sharan Dhaliwal, Founder of Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride