Born and raised in Mumbai, Shakera was immersed in a colourful kaleidoscope of Indian city life. Her family were tailors, and she spent her summers working alongside her mother and aunt, learning the intricacies of hand embroidery, tailoring and henna.
At school, is where Shakera discovered her love for drawing and painting. Her family encouraged her from an early age in her love for art and growing up with few possessions, Shakera treasured the small paint palette and brush that her family could afford. Surrounded by the effervescent bustle of India, rich with vibrancy, beautiful textiles and natural fauna and flora, Shakera always found something beautiful to draw.
At age nineteen, Shakera left for the comparatively tranquil, British countryside to marry and raise her family. She dedicated much of her life to raising her children and forged a successful career in property.
She continued to harbour a creative side fuelled by her admiration for nature. With a sketchbook and pencil in hand, and the quintessential English countryside a fountain of endless inspiration, she would draw and paint when time granted her.
As her children grew up, Shakera decided it was her time to follow her passions. The unrelenting desire to explore her artistry led Shakera to pursue further education. Vocational courses encouraged her to experiment with mixed media, but it was her Foundation studies in Art & Textile Design that opened a new creative path for her.
The knowledge gained in digital and screen printing techniques planted a seed in her mind; the idea for wearable works of art – a collection of her making that reflected her journey and trajectory in life. She carried the idea with her as she studied her Master’s degree in Fashion and Textile Design, gaining invaluable know-how in modern textile methods including reflective fabrics and thermochromic materials.
With the knowledge, skills and confidence gained from her education, Shakera took the leap of faith to share her aesthetic and her vision with the world. In 2018, she founded ‘Shakera Design’ which evolved to become ‘Shaku’ in early 2019. After a year in the making, and countless experiments in colour and composition, her dream was realised in a resplendent collection of luxury scarves.
Each Shaku piece represents a harmonious marriage between the colourful flourishes of her native India and the idyllic, haven-like landscapes of rural England. A glorious fusion of her past and her present. Shakera’s journey has been about rediscovering how to express her skills and vision and sharing it with the world.