Felix Bendish – Photography and Interview

Felix Bendish as a brand is based in Mumbai India, and was set up in 2022. Felix knew his heart was in fashion, so although he had already completed a degree in commerce, he decided to pursue a 3-year degree in fashion. Coming from a creative background, it made sense to him, and he then turned his love of embroidery into designing and making clothes and accessories for his namesake label.

To create his collections, he first starts with an embroidered motif – this is used in other ways throughout the rest of the designs, creating all kinds of illusions. Felix sources fabrics from all over India and works with Indian artisans, dyers and weavers – he also finds these to be a source of inspiration.

The collection presented at Fashion Scout was titled Cerebral Morphism. Vivid colours from brain heat maps were used to create the colours of the butterfly wings on Felix’s mood board. This butterfly was then hand embroidered in beads and crystals, and also used in prints on fabrics. Matching brooches were created and gifted to the audience.

Fabrics used were silk twills and cotton poplin, along with lots of surface ornamentation from waste materials and fabrics. Felix repurposed textiles that he’d had for five years, pleating them and reusing them in this collection.

In the collection itself, the fabrics flowed beautifully, which really complemented the digital prints. The beads and crystals in the headbands and clothes shone really brightly, but my favourite piece was actually the bright red loop-stitch scarf – I’m always drawn to knitwear.

Felix tells me he actually wanted to show some menswear too, and for SS2024 he is planning to introduce two men’s garments. This upcoming collection is inspired by the Hindu goddess Ganga, the personification of the river Ganges, who rides a crocodile-like creature called the makara. Felix finds her to be fierce and commanding, which he considers similar to the women of today, who he says are moving ahead and challenging the status quo.