Little Shilpa

The creative force behind the label Little Shilpa is designer Shilpa Chavan, born in 1974 in Mumbai. The Indian based designer started her career studying fashion design and manufacturing at Mumbai's university. Shilpa then went onto specialise in accessory design and won scholarships to undertake intensive training courses in millinery and jewellery design at The London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. Shilpa's talents were acknowledged early in her career, when in 1996 she received the coveted Ffolio Trophy at her graduation for the 'most creative and original collection'. In the same year Shilpa was a finalist in the Femina Miss India; Designer of the year award, as well as becoming a finalist at the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards and also The Swarnanjali Jewellery Design Contest. She has designed and handcrafted accessories for labels such as Manish Arora, Hemant Trevedi, Tarun Tahiliani, Malini Ramani , Sabyasachi Mukherjee & Aparna Chandra (India Fashion Week). & Unconditional at London Fashion Week. In 2005 the designer undertook an apprenticeship with world-renowned milliner Philip Treacy in London. Shilpa has recently showcased a video & art installation at the Victoria & Albert Museum and taken part in the Trafalgar Square Festival, presenting a moving installation with Attakallari Dancers. In 2008, littleshilpa opened their first pop-up concept store in Goa called National Permit, selling a selection of headpieces & accessories.