Fashion event: SARI/STATEMENT

Host: Minella van Bergeijk

Artie Ramsodit
Senator, commissioner, and entrepreneur Artie Ramsodit moved from Suriname to the Netherlands at a young age and has Hindustani roots. At her inauguration in the Senate for the GroenLinks-PVDA faction, she wore a sari with a painting from Bihar (Madhubani) to show a connection with the colonial past. This year, during Prinsjesdag, she will once again showcase the diversity of the Netherlands with a special piece of clothing. Artie will share more about this at the SARI/STATEMENT event!

Helina Guleria
Helina Guleria is a fashion designer and artist who incorporates social issues and activism into her art. Helina has an Indian/Dutch mixed background, which is clearly reflected in her designs. She loves working with surprising color combinations, drawing inspiration from the streets of India and blending it with modern European styles. Additionally, Helina is active in talent development for young people (also known as the next generation of changemakers).

Shantie Singh (1982) is a storyteller in many forms: she is an author, presenter/moderator, program maker, theater maker, women's rights activist, and creative public administrator, also known as a 'glambtenaar' at the municipality of Rotterdam. She is also a storytelling fashionista.

She loves to make invisible stories visible and has a soft spot for the 'underdog and silent heroines,' because they often carry the most beautiful and powerful stories. This is reflected in her books, theater, vlogs, events, posts, and also in her work in the government, where she focuses on women's rights, tackling domestic violence, and stopping violence against women. Additionally, Shantie is a vlogger with her own YouTube Channel (Shantie Singh Official). Themes such as identity, diversity, women's rights, and emancipation often take center stage in her work. It is her passion to contribute to improving the position of girls and women worldwide.

Shantie recently published the non-fiction book "Na de komma," and previously the novels "Vervoering" and "De kier." She co-wrote the manifesto "Optimistische woede" ("Optimistic Anger") as a member of the feminist writing collective Fixdit and wrote stories and essays for the collections "De komeet" and "Dat wij zongen." In 2024, she created the theater show "Her (s)tories – an ode to the women from Hindustani migration history." After a sold-out premiere earlier this year, the play will be performed again this fall. For more info about the play, visit www.talktheater.nl.

LOBOMAR-
Marcella and Marco Lobo, the sibling founders of LOBOMAR-, grew up in Köln and London with their Indian-Italian parents. This multicultural upbringing sparked a lifelong conversation about identity, choice, and composition, which ultimately led to the creation of LOBOMAR-. Together, they aim to challenge traditional notions of authenticity, exploring how choice and composition create personal expressions of identity. LOBOMAR- is a celebration of these dialogues, bringing their shared vision to life through fashion that transcends cultural boundaries and redefines contemporary style. To explore the label’s latest pieces visit www.lobomarhyphen.com/collections. 

Marcella Lobo
Marcella, the creative visionary, started her journey at AMFI and has gained experience at notable labels in the UK and Germany. She has showcased her collections at Berlin Fashion Week, blending cultural narratives with contemporary design.

Marco Lobo
Marco, the business strategist, brings a wealth of experience from building and scaling a venture-backed global AI company in construction and working as a digital strategy consultant. His expertise ensures that LOBOMAR- thrives not only creatively but also commercially.