Profile

Sonal Kabra graduated in Apparel Design and Merchandising from NID (National Institute of Design – Ahmedabad) in 2009 and went on becoming the youngest NIDian to win a scholarship at Politechnico di Milano, Italy for the masters in Strategic Design.  

Her flair for design and passion for creating clothes gave birth to her eponymous label in the summer of 2011 and a second label The NEEM TREE in 2017.

In 2012, she was shortlisted among top 50 entrepreneurs at Power of Ideas organized by IIM-Ahmedabad in association with the Economic Times for her business idea with a strong social cause.

Her forte lies in translating new ideas and inspirations in clothes that are elegant and comfortable with a detailed attention to fabric and craftsmanship. Each piece from her collection is made from age-old indian textiles woven by some of the finest weavers coming from different parts the country. 

These fabrics are then taken on a contemporary ride using traditional techniques like applique, block printing, shibori and embroidery resulting into a dress that is soft, supple and comfortable.

Sonal strongly believes that fashion should have a social vision. If the process of creating beautiful clothes can bring some difference in the lives of talented craftsmen by creating employment and helping them preserve their skills, that’s an achievement.

Known for her versatile use of Khadhi, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Bengal cotton and muls, she now retails through various luxury stores across the country. Her collection is designed for women of all ages who have love and flair for the ingenious crafts of India. 

 

The label Sonal Kabra specialises in organic and hand woven fabrics that are taken through painstaking process of surface creation along with precision tailoring and detailing to produce an exclusive and comfortable wearable range of clothing. 

Her intensive use of Shibori, an extremely time-honoured and unique technique of tie and dye serves as a theme and inspiration for the collection. Finely handwoven chanderi fabric is taken through a process of fold, crinkle, stitch and dying to achieve intricate designs with the sheer play of colour variations that makes the transition magical. The process of Shibori is taken through a contemporary ride, developing the form and texture that is unique and beautiful.

Each piece is individually designed, crafted and dyed in lovely shades to create a very fluid looking tunics, jackets and dresses blending together meticulous tailoring and contrast detailing.

The collections made in delicate fabrics such as handwoven chanderi, maheshwari, organza, Bengal handloom cotton, khadhi and soft mulmuls makes each dress a must have.

 

 

The Neem Tree is a concept-clothing brand based in Baroda, India that started with the vision to empower regional block printers and weavers across the country to preserve the rich heritage and craft reservoir of India. 

Best known for its unique take on contemporary clothing, The Neem Tree collections come in natural fabric and in fresh and neutral palettes, whilst keeping true to The Neem Tree's brand philosophy of ‘extraordinary simplicity’.

We believe that Neem is a nature’s gift to the mankind, which has the power to solve global problems. Similarly, our weavers, artisans and their craft is a gift to our country which through their eco-friendly, organic and sustainable approach could solve various issues faced by our fast paced society.

Handcrafted from scratch, each garment is a result of endless days of hard work and conscious efforts that our team of weavers, dyers, craftsmen, tailors and designers put in for one finished product.