Nethangi Fernando

Category: Apparel

Competitions: International

“Resilient Skins” is a fashion project born from the in-between space—what anthropologists call “liminality”where tradition and innovation coexist, collide, and transform. Drawing deeply from the history and spiritual legacy of Native American communities, this collection reimagines leather not just as a fabric, but as a medium of remembrance, resilience, and revival. At the heart of the project is the enduring voice of indigenous survivors. The Native American experience is one of historical trauma: the brutality of European colonization stripped away land, languages, and lives. Generations faced cultural erasure through forced assimilation and displacement. Yet, what remains is not silence, but strength. This collection pays homage to that strength, speaking through garments that tell stories once forced into silence. I use leather as the primary material not only for its sustainable and biodegradable qualities but for its symbolic connection to indigenous life. Traditionally used in Native American attire, ceremonial garments, tools, and adornments, leather represented protection, identity, and sacred connection to nature. Today, by ethically sourcing leather, this collection honors those traditions while engaging in the global push for sustainable fashion. It challenges the wastefulness of synthetic fast fashion by creating pieces that are built to last, both physically and culturally. Leather is also a strong and enduring fabric, just like the Native American people who survived centuries of colonization and continue to carry their cultures forward with strength and dignity. Each silhouette in the collection blends ancestral craftsmanship with futuristic experimentation. You’ll see streetwear-inspired forms that integrate fiber optics, bioluminescent details, and laser-etched tribal patterns - an embodiment of the past encoded into the present. The design language draws from motifs such as, traditional basket weaving, pottery techniques, bead-works, sacred fire and natural textures, all adapted into sleek, wearable art pieces. One standout garment is a bioluminescent leather trench with etched Cherokee poetry inside, visible only in the darkness, a hidden story within the skin. This project also brings to life the power of indigenous self-expression. The aim is not to appropriate but to amplify through collaboration with indigenous artisans, storytelling platforms, and fair employment practices. This is not just a fashion project, it is a platform to economically empower and creatively liberate communities long overlooked by the industry. By using leather, this collection embraces a material with ancient soul and future strength. In every stitch lies defiance. In every cut, remembrance. This is fashion with a purpose to give back space, power, and beauty to those who were once pushed to the margins. Resilient Skins is not just wearable. It’s a movement.