NY designer Suma Chander produces sustainable fashion

Cultivated by a childhood spent in India, Chander possesses an innate eye and hand for fine fabrics as well as a natural aversion to synthetic fibers, due to its significant carbon footprint. Rather, Chander incorporates raw silks, wools and other natural fibers in her collections of opulent cocktail and evening attire.

The designer also promotes upcycling textiles by sourcing many silks for repurposing in New York, where her studio and production house is based. While working on this upcoming Spring 2013 season, Suma Chander continues to embrace an environmentally friendly and socially responsible philosophy while seeking further opportunities to address ethical issues.

Chander most recently teamed up with her Buddhist teacher, Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, to launch a new passion project and humanitarian program for developing countries.

Appropriately titled Pure Water Project, this nonprofit charity aims to provide drinking accessible water to remote areas of the world, beginning with the state of Orissa in India. In efforts to raise awareness and garner support, a percentage of all sales from Suma’s line now goes directly to the organization.

Suma Chander is a womenswear luxury designer, who specializes in sophisticated cocktail and evening attire, which is produced locally here in New York City.

Suma Chander