Interview/Review by Rhiannon D’Averc, Editor in Chief, London Runway
Date: 6th June 2026
Q. Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your creative practice?
Anusha Bikumala: I am a practicing fashion and textile designer, Creative Director and Founder of Stylehive, a concept-led fashion label launched in 2021. My work is driven by a fascination with how fashion can communicate stories, cultural narratives and emotional experiences through textiles, craftsmanship and design rather than simply responding to trends.
Through StyleHive, I develop collections that begin with a central idea and evolve through research, material exploration and visual storytelling. Whether drawing inspiration from cultural heritage, sustainability or wellbeing, I aim to translate these concepts into contemporary garments that are both wearable and meaningful. My practice combines handcrafted textile processes, sustainable design approaches and concept driven narratives to create collections that encourage people to engage with fashion on a deeper level.
Q. Two of your most distinct projects are the Astro-Ga collection and the Neo-Nomads line. What do these represent in the context of Stylehive’s practice?
Anusha: Both collections represent the same design philosophy expressed through completely different conceptual lenses and together they demonstrate the range of what Stylehive is doing.
Astro-Ga was developed to challenge the assumption that sustainable fashion must be visually restrained. I wanted to prove through the work itself that eco-conscious design can be structurally complex and emotionally expressive. The collection translates astrological symbolism and wellness narratives into sustainable lifestyle silhouettes, using material development and surface treatment as the primary creative language.
Neo-Nomads is a deeper investigation into tribal and nomadic visual traditions. For this collection, I worked with raw, textured design elements drawn from cultural research and engineered them into structured, contemporary garment construction. The aim was to create a high-fashion aesthetic that preserves the material intelligence of traditional weaves while speaking directly to international editorial and commercial markets. Both collections attracted significant editorial interest internationally and Neo-Nomads has been featured in Moevir Paris magazine.
Q. Astro-Ga received formal backing from Kaumudi Studio. How significant was that partnership for Stylehive?
Anusha: It was significant in two specific ways. First, practically: Kaumudi Studio’s support provided access to specialised resources – sustainable fabric sourcing, handcraft production knowledge and the material expertise embedded in an organization with deep roots in Indian textile and handloom traditions. That access allowed me to realise the collection to a standard that would not have been possible independently.
Secondly, perhaps more importantly for where Stylehive is heading, it was a form of peer validation. Kaumudi Studio is led by Dr Sharmila Nagraj Nandula, a founding faculty member and Associate Professor at the National Institute of Fashion Technology for over a decade and someone with three decades of experience in sustainable fashion and textile design. The decision by an organization of that credibility to invest in a Stylehive collection was a direct signal that the work was being recognized at a serious professional level. That recognition matters – it reflects the kind of validation that shapes what a label becomes.
Q. You have also been appointed as a jury member for the National Institute of Fashion Technology, India’s premier national fashion institution. How does that sit alongside your practice as a designer?
Anusha: Industry leadership and active design practice are not separate tracks for me, they feed directly into one another. My appointment as a jury member for NIFT Hyderabad in 2023 was, as I understand it, a reflection of my standing as an active practitioner in the commercial sector. NIFT invites external jurors to bring a practicing designer’s perspective to the assessment of graduating collections to evaluate work through a real-world creative and commercial lens, not only through an academic one.
Evaluating the next generation’s collections gave me a precise understanding of where the Indian fashion industry is directing its talent and where the gaps are. That perspective feeds back into how I develop collections through Stylehive. It is also a reminder of the responsibility that comes with having a point of view: the designers I assessed were looking to the industry for a signal about what serious design practice looks like. Being in that room is not separate from doing the work. It is part of what the work demands.
Q. You have made national television appearances as an invited design expert. How do you approach communicating fashion to a public audience?
Anusha: My appearance on DD Yadagiri – a Doordarshan national broadcast channel – was an invitation to speak about fashion and textile design as a professional and creative field to a broad public audience. That kind of engagement requires a different discipline than speaking within the industry.
What I found is that the core ideas are not actually that difficult to translate. The questions that a non-specialist asks on why does this material behave this way, what makes a garment last, what does sustainable actually mean in practice – are often sharper than the questions that circulate inside the industry. Speaking publicly about what I do through Stylehive has consistently clarified my own thinking about it. It forces you to articulate the logic behind your creative decisions in plain terms, which is useful. If you cannot explain why you made a choice, you probably have not thought it through fully enough.
Q. Many designers approach sustainability through minimalism. Your work takes a more complex visual direction. Why?
Anusha: One of the assumptions I have always questioned is that sustainable fashion must look simple, neutral or restrained. Sustainability should not define a particular aesthetic; it should influence the way we think about materials, processes and longevity. For me, responsible design and creative expression are not opposing ideas.
Through collections such as Astro-Ga and Neo-Nomads, I wanted to demonstrate that sustainability can exist alongside rich textile development, handcrafted surface techniques and strong visual storytelling. My aim is to create garments that are both meaningful and visually engaging, where the commitment to responsible design enhances the creative narrative rather than limiting it. I believe the most impactful fashion is able to balance innovation, craftsmanship and sustainability within the same piece.
Q. What do you think is currently missing from conversations around sustainable fashion?
Anusha: Much of the conversation around sustainable fashion focuses on materials, sourcing and production methods, which are all essential. However, I believe there is another equally important aspect that often receives less attention: emotional connection. People are far more likely to value and keep garments when they feel personally connected to them, and longevity remains one of the most powerful forms of sustainability.
Through StyleHive, I aim to create that connection by building narratives into every collection. Whether through textile development, cultural references or concept-driven storytelling, I want each garment to carry meaning beyond its function. For me, sustainability is not only about what a garment is made from, but also about creating pieces that people cherish, remember and choose to keep for years rather than seasons.
Q. What role does cultural heritage play in your design practice?
Anusha: Cultural heritage is a significant influence in my work, but I see it as something living and evolving rather than something to be preserved unchanged. Growing up around rich textile traditions and craft practices gave me an appreciation for the knowledge, symbolism and craftsmanship embedded within them. My interest lies in translating that heritage into contemporary fashion in ways that remain relevant to modern audiences.
In collections such as Neo-Nomads, I explored inspirations from nomadic communities, traditional textiles and artisan craftsmanship, reinterpreting them through contemporary silhouettes and sustainable design approaches. Rather than replicating historical references, I focus on carrying forward the stories, values and creative intelligence behind them. For me, heritage is not about looking backwards; it is about creating new narratives that connect culture, craftsmanship and contemporary fashion.
Q. What is the long-term vision for Stylehive and what role does the UK play in your next chapter?
Anusha: The long-term vision for Stylehive is to build a contemporary fashion label that brings together sustainability, textile innovation and cultural storytelling through thoughtfully crafted collections. I want the brand to continue exploring how traditional knowledge, artisan-inspired techniques and concept-led design can be translated into fashion that feels relevant, desirable and meaningful for today’s audience.
The British Fashion Industry in the UK represents an exciting environment for that next stage of growth. Its strong appreciation for independent designers, craft-based practices and sustainable fashion makes it a natural place for Stylehive to evolve. I am particularly interested in developing relationships with UK fashion publications, boutiques, creative organisations and industry professionals who share similar values around innovation, craftsmanship and responsible design. My goal is to establish Stylehive’s presence within the UK fashion landscape while continuing to create collections that connect heritage, sustainability and contemporary fashion in new ways.
Q. Finally – what would you like people to feel when they encounter a Stylehive collection?
Anusha: I would like people to feel that they are experiencing something created with purpose rather than simply following a trend. Every collection begins with an idea, whether it is inspired by cultural heritage, wellbeing, sustainability or a deeper narrative, and every design decision is made to support that story.
More than anything, I want people to feel a connection. If someone is drawn to a garment because of its craftsmanship, becomes curious about the story behind it, and chooses to keep it because it holds meaning for them, then the collection has achieved its purpose. Fashion has the ability to communicate ideas, emotions and identities, and I hope Stylehive encourages people to engage with clothing not only as something they wear, but as something they experience and remember.
About the Designer
Anusha Bikumala is a fashion and textile designer, Creative Director and Founder of Stylehive, a concept-led fashion label founded in 2021 and built around the integration of sustainability, handcrafted textile processes and narrative-driven design.
Her collections include Neo-Nomads, a culturally grounded exploration of tribal and nomadic visual traditions featured in Moevir Paris (June 2026 issue); Astro-Ga, a sustainable yoga-wear concept developed through astrology-inspired textile design and formally backed by Kaumudi Studio and a collection inspired by Indian jewellery heritage, translating iconographic textile traditions into contemporary garment construction.
Anusha was invited to appear as a design and textile expert on DD Yadagiri, a Doordarshan national broadcast channel, in October 2023. She served as a Jury Member at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad in 2023 – India’s premier statutory fashion institution. She is currently developing Stylehive’s editorial and commercial presence within the UK fashion industry.
Instagram: @anusha_bikumala | @stylehive2020
