Abarna Kugathasan staged her first Kitschy Couture fashion show at the ballroom of Ballhaus Pankow, a 19th-century building in Berlin. A week before Valentine’s Day, the space was transformed for Kugathasan’s dream wedding: guests were seated at round tables covered in white cloth, watching one Kitschy Couture bride after another walk down the runway. The models, who flaunted different body shapes and skin tones, walked past a gilded mandap, a pillared structure that often serves as an altar in Hindu wedding ceremonies.
The setting was one reason that Kitschy Couture’s debut show, titled Buttercream Fantasy, stood out on the Berlin Fashion Week calendar for Fall/Winter 2024. Kugathasan was also the first Tamil fashion designer to join the calendar, and she cast models of different body types and skin tones, especially those of South Asian descent, for her presentation.
“Before, it would have been unimaginable to attend a fashion show that celebrates Tamil culture through a diasporic lens,” says Kugathasan, who was born in Germany to immigrant parents from Sri Lanka. “We made individuals from our community feel seen and appreciated—individuals who may not have experienced that feeling in this space before. I hope that the show demonstrates how important representation is, and also offers an intimate insight into a life with an immigrant background, where cultures blend and coexist harmoniously.”
Of course, another highlight of the show was Kugathasan’s designs, which were much like deconstructed wedding gowns: a puff-sleeve satin top here, a floaty tulle skirt there. The 28-year-old designer drew heavily from lingerie, constructing minidresses with layers of lace and criss-crossing ribbons along pants and miniskirts. The most dramatic look was a satin ballgown with a voluminous, ruffled skirt, adorned with large lotus flower appliques in bright pink and green. Unabashed kitschiness.
Kugathasan again played with those elements and fabrications in her Spring/Summer 2025 collection—what she calls the “honeymoon collection”—and it proved to be a winning formula. An all-white ensemble, featuring a cropped blouse with frothy sleeves and a lace skirt lined with ruffles, was worn by Blackpink member Jennie in her music video for Mantra.
“That bridal look will always hold a special place in my heart,” shares Kugathasan. “Every member of our Kitschy Couture family poured a bit of themselves into bringing it to life—from the drape, to the pattern, the construction and finishing, and right down to every single handcrafted rose.”
Family, in its many forms, lies at the heart of Kitschy Couture. “I’m fortunate to collaborate with some of the most talented designers, who I am proud to call my friends,” says Kugathasan of her Kitschy Couture family. “We studied fashion together and when Kitschy Couture evolved from my bachelor project into a fashion brand, they joined me on this journey.”
In her collections, Kugathasan also explores the roots and culture of her biological family. She takes inspiration from objects that she saw in her childhood: the foam lotus flowers that her parents decorated their home with, the synthetic flowers her mother wore in her hair, and the saris that her mother made.
Ahead, Kugathasan tells us more about how she created her Kitschy Couture universe.
What do you appreciate about kitsch?
Abarna Kugathasan (AK): I appreciate kitsch for its unapologetic uniqueness, its ability to always stand out, and the lighthearted nature of never taking anything too seriously.
Are your designs influenced by traditional Tamil garments? The vibrant hues in your designs seem to draw from the striking colours of saris.
AK: I would definitely say that the vibrant colours used in Kitschy Couture are deeply rooted in my Tamil background and the way that I was raised. At the same time, my designs are influenced by the saris my mother created—although it is important for me to bring my own unique interpretations to them. I explore the classic technique of sari draping, but instead of using traditional fabrics, I draw inspiration from lingerie, and the construction and the materials of undergarments. The results are the colourful, asymmetrical and eccentric Kitschy Couture creations, which symbolise my contemporary interpretations of the traditional sari.
What are some favourite memories of your mother making traditional Tamil garments?
AK: I always admired how my mother brought a slice of her Sri Lankan homeland to Germany with a simple household sewing machine. She is a trained tailoress for traditional Tamil attire, and I grew up watching her sew all our festive clothes at home. I would often find myself in our living room surrounded by metres of colourful silk, watching her sew and drape saris for all the women in our neighbourhood. She is one of the most creative people I know and every design inspiration I have stems from her. One dress that holds a special place in my heart—and which also inspired my recent collection—is a classic white Western wedding gown that my mum designed for one of my birthdays as a child. She even baked a matching cake, featuring a white Barbie doll wearing a buttercream dress and traditional Tamil jewellery.
Did you have any South Asian icons that you looked up to while growing up?
AK: During my childhood and teenage years in Germany, I never encountered people who looked like me in television or magazines. I felt invisible, unheard and unrepresented. I vividly recall the moment that I stumbled across a two-page spread featuring [British-Tamil rapper] M.I.A in a magazine. Her strength and her pride in her Tamil heritage opened my eyes to a new world.
In what ways do you think that having a multicultural identity is a strength?
AK: As a child of Tamil immigrants who was born and raised in Germany, I learned to navigate life amidst contrary cultures. When I was younger, I always felt like I had to choose one cultural side, and yet I could never fully belong to just one. As I grew older I realised that I didn’t have to choose. I understood that my identity was shaped through a fusion of both sides. Combining my Tamil heritage and my Western upbringing allows me to honour my roots and simultaneously give birth to new traditions—while fully embracing my authentic self. In my ‘Kitschy Universe’, there are no rules to live by or restrictions to hold you back. There can never be too much of anything. With my fashion label, I am able to honour my roots, express my longing for a home that I have never known, and create an excessively ‘Kitschy Paradise’ that I now call my home.
What did you want to express in your Spring/Summer 2025 collection?
AK: The Buttercream Fantasy show [Kitschy Couture’s debut, staged for Fall/Winter 2024] was a love story to oneself and a celebration of cultural identity. Our Spring/Summer 2025 show, Artificial Paradise, continued the story: the bride is now setting off on her honeymoon getaway. In my “Artificial Paradise”, where the honeymoon takes place, no boundaries exist, and diverse cultural influences can coexist harmoniously. I developed this concept during my bachelor’s thesis as part of my graduation project. I wanted to express the deep desire within me to live freely between both of my cultural worlds, as well as my longing for my homeland Sri Lanka, which I have never truly known.
Who is Kitschy Couture for?
AK: Having experienced directly what the absence of representation meant while growing up, it is particularly important for me to work towards changing that. Kitschy Couture’s mission isn’t only to narrate the story of the Tamil diaspora, but also to give a voice to individuals from within our communities who often remain unheard. This guides our decisions on how we cast models or who we collaborate with. Every individual within our Kitschy Couture family has a deep emotional tie to our identity. I believe this emotional connection is the reason why our Buttercream Fantasy show was described as a celebration of love and why it felt as if the Ballhaus Pankow’s roof was about to burst from all the love that filled the room.
What’s next for Kitschy Couture in 2025?
AK: I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for how much the brand has grown over the past year. What began as a simple desire to express my cultural identity turned my entire world upside down. We’re super excited to announce that our very first drop is set for February 2025! Our community will soon have the opportunity to purchase their first Kitschy Couture creation and bring a piece of our fantasy into their own lives. We can’t wait to see our sugary creations out in the world.
This story originally appeared in the Dec/Jan 2025 issue of GRAZIA Singapore.
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