Jigsaw x Sharan Ranshi

Clothing has always played an integral role in Sharan’s journey as an artist. Emerging first through print design during her degree at Central St. Martins, then through fashion illustrations and now portraiture: paintings that focus on the model and her surroundings, not just the clothing she wears. This shift from illustration into portraiture demonstrates the evolving importance of fashion to Sharan: “it is an outward expression of who you are on the inside”.

Each painting unique - comprised by interesting shapes, bold colours and maximal prints - Sharan draws inspiration from anything and everything. Runway shows. Flowers and fauna. Andy Warhol. Carpet shops. Neil Gilks (a tutor from her Central St. Martins days). Art galleries and museums. Mughal paintings. Her mixed cultural heritage (India and Kenya).

“I feel a bit like a magpie sometimes. When I see something beautiful, I somehow just want to capture it. I want a part of it”

In an organic compilation, Sharan’s artwork reflects what is on her mind at the time. And this collaboration is no exception; starting as a quick doodle of a Chintz flower pattern from the V&A turns into a series of contemporary prints fit for a capsule collection. Whilst Sharan has designed prints for fashion brands before, she describes her experience with Jigsaw as feeling like a truly collaborative process. ‘I got a creative input as opposed to just following a brief’.

That’s why, when asked about her own personal style, it’s unsurprising this collection sums it up.

“The more print, the more colour, the happier I am”.