Mashooka Designs

Fashion designer Mashooka Designs comes to us all the way from the Netherlands. She started designing her own fashions out of necessity, wanting a very unique look for herself. A very good friend of hers convinced her to start selling and so the success story began. The authentic Indian wear is part of her RL culture and background and designing this style of clothing along with her expansive contemporary line makes her totally happy. Her fashion house is named Mashooka Designs. The store was recently relocated to a new and larger location.

Aradhana's philosophy in Second Life is to enjoy herself first and foremost. She works best when there is no pressure so she can be totally relaxed and let those creative juices just flow. She built her first store herself with a little bit of help from a friend on a small plot no bigger than 1,500 square meters.

Helene Diplomat: For someone like me who is quite new to these different styles of such as the salwaar, the lehenga, the saree and the gharara, can you tell me when an elegant lady would wear each style?
Aradhana Voight: Myself, I would wear a saree because i am tall and have quite some hips and a saree is made to give a slim look. Ghararas, I wore when i was a teenager. I loved to dance in the skirt which really looks wide when you are dancing. The lehenga, I would suggest for ladies who cannot handle a saree which has a more tight skirting and looks elegant also. Salwaars are unique but I never wore them myself. I like to see them more on my younger sister because she has a model figure and a salwaar can be tight around your body. And normal salwaars are usually the casual Indian dresses.
HD: Without divulging trade secrets, can you tell me what kind of effort goes into designing the textures of your fabrics, especially the textures of the sarees?
AV: Making these textures, is a process that is always new and challenging to me. Every single one is designed differently and I'm proud of each one I make. One of my textures, I spent a few days between the color pattern and the design on it. You will notice that the flexi is actually sheer and the pattern is not sheer.
HD: I can tell a lot of work goes into it.
AV: Oh yes it does but the end result is quite stunning I think. As odd as it may sound, sometimes I impress myself. Aradhana smiles humbly.
HD: Can you recall the most memorable comment made by a visitor to your store?
AV: Oh yes! I don't remember what she told me exactly but that she was an Indian and hadn't heard about the store but was really happy to finally have found it. She had been an SL resident for almost a year. I really like that Indians are happy with the designs I created in SL, because when you wear such clothing in RL, you can really appreciate these special designs. If I didn't lack time, I would work on so many more concepts. It just thrills me when someone tells me they are happy with a Mashooka design.
HD: Is there anything you would like the rest of the world to know about Aradhana Voight, Fashion Designer?
AV: I am just a simple girl who is enjoying her time and creativity in SL. I am also thankful for the support I have received over the last year in SL. Soon, the store will celebrate its first anniversary on April 29th. Mashooka Designs is a part of this virtual world because of all the SL residents who support me as they enjoy my creations more and more.
HD: I think that you've done a wonderful job answering all my questions that you've probably been asked a thousand times before.
AV: Oh no Helene i enjoyed your questions.
HD: thank you so much for your time.

	Style: Chique Black