Can fabric tell a story? This question guided our editorial, Drape Dead Elegance, which appears on the cover and inside pages of VANGUARD Magazine. This publication celebrates collaboration, honors creative vision, and affirms that thoughtful, handmade fashion belongs in the global conversation.
A Fashion Designer Rooted in Science and Tradition
At the heart of this shoot is my dear friend and gifted designer Smaranika Nikki Sarangi. Once a microbiologist, now a fashion designer, Nikki’s work lives at the intersection of science, heritage, and art. This editorial, shot on location at Casa Nomada in Bali, is her declaration, an offering of beauty rooted in meaning.
From the very first frame, you feel it. That bold red. The curve of the fabric. The visual rhythm of handwoven indigo, copper, and deep wine. It draws you in. Not as a trend, but as a truth. A piece that speaks for itself, and for the generations of artisans behind it.
Nikki’s path into fashion wasn’t typical. She holds a PhD in microbiology, and that scientific mindset continues to shape how she sees the world. But it was her formal training in fashion design that gave her the tools to translate that vision into wearable form. The result is something rare: design that’s both analytical and instinctive. Pieces that are structured yet soulful. Rooted in theory, yet deeply emotional.
Her collections are labors of layered storytelling. Just as a scientist dissects patterns and systems, Nikki constructs garments with intention. Every element is considered. From silhouette to symmetry, fabric weight to movement, each decision reflects a harmony of logic and intuition.
The garment featured in VANGUARD Magazine is no exception. Worn by Pinky Mutiara, the look is a masterclass in asymmetry, drape, and reinterpretation. The vibrant wrap, styled by Hannah Do, feels sculptural one moment and soft the next. It’s tied at the waist, worn over the shoulder, falling loose behind her back. It transforms with each frame, reflecting Nikki’s belief that clothes should shift with the wearer. Fashion, she says, should mold to the person, not the other way around.
But this is more than a philosophy of fit. It’s a philosophy of identity. The garment doesn’t erase the body beneath it. It collaborates with it. It listens.
The fabric itself carries its own legacy. A richly textured ikat handwoven by artisans from Nikki’s native Odisha, India. In an industry increasingly defined by speed, Nikki chooses slowness. She works closely with local weavers, ensuring her designs preserve and elevate traditional techniques. These garments are cultural artifacts. Living threads of memory, craft, and resilience.
That sense of grounded heritage is what drew us to Casa Nomada. The space, with its raw walls, earthy tones, and architectural stillness, mirrored the heart of Nikki’s work. Set against weathered doors and light filtered through palms, the garment felt at home. Every texture in the scene amplified the tactile story woven into the piece.
Each scene we captured at Casa Nomada reflected a different facet of Nikki’s aesthetic. One moment felt timeless and regal. The next, intimate and grounded. This interplay made the shoot dynamic, allowing the design to evolve across the editorial, like a story unfolding, one page at a time.
And that’s the essence of Nikki’s work. It’s not just fashion. It’s narrative. There is memory in the folds. Purpose in the print. A worldview stitched into every seam.
It’s also deeply global. Nikki’s pieces have graced the runways of Silicon Valley Fashion Week, made their way to New York, and now, through this feature, to Bali. Yet no matter the setting, the core of her work remains the same: sustainability, cultural continuity, and empowerment through design.
This editorial, Drape Dead Elegance, honors a creative process that weaves together science and craft, the personal and the collective, history and reinvention.
A Photographer’s Perspective
The final frame is one I keep returning to. Pinky stands in the doorway of Casa Nomada. Light spills in behind her. The worn wood frames her like a portrait. There’s a stillness to the image, but also an invitation. It feels less like an ending and more like an opening.
Nikki’s work opens doors. Between past and present. Between art and function. Between heritage and innovation. And through these doors, new stories emerge, stories that are both timeless and urgently now.
As a fashion and editorial photographer, it’s a privilege to work with designers like Nikki who are not just making clothes, but creating meaning. This shoot reminded me why I do what I do. Because fashion, at its best, isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. About creating something that breathes, that speaks, and that endures.
Photoshoot Credits
- Model: Pinky Mutiara
- Wardrobe Stylist: Hannah Do
- Fashion Designer: Smaranika Nikki Sarangi
- Photographer: Paul Tocatlian
To all the creatives out there, if you’re looking to tell a story that goes deeper than the surface, let’s connect. Whether you’re a brand, designer, model, or stylist, I’d love to collaborate. Contact us and let’s bring your vision to life through fashion editorials and runway stories that resonate beyond the frame.
© Paul Tocatlian. All Rights Reserved.
Kisau Photography 