PORTFOLIORohan Chhabra

Projects

1. Project Endangered, 2013Independent project

2. Embodying ethics, 2010MA, Central Saint Martins

3. Nike EHQ, 2010-12Apparel Designer

6. Profile5. Re-culture, 2014Collaboration

4. The Mavericks, 2008BA, Pearl Academy of Fashion

INDEX

The Hunter becomes the Hunted

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The project aims to inform the issue of extinction of critically endangered species like the elephant, the mountain gorilla, the tiger and the rhino. A future without these animals is dark and disturbing. As they are an important part of the eco-system. Their survival is our hope for a sustainable future.By designing a series of hunting outfits that turn into representations of the animal under threat, reminds us of our complicity in the problem. As merely a fashion item, there is a sense in which the hunting outfit empowers without guilt, but then it reminds us of the ultimate source of this potency- the act of slaying a living creature and transforming it into an object, a decorative accessory, a trophy. Rather than condemning the hunter outright, these sculp-tural garments enable us to recognize the hunter in ourselves. The aim is to create a disturbing experi-ence that moves from aesthetics to moral reflection

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Project Endangered, 2013

TigerCritically EndangeredStatus : 3200 in wildThreat : Hunted for trophies and their body parts for traditional medicines in South East Asia

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Asian ElephantCritically EndangeredStatus : 2400-2800 Sumatran Elephants in wildThreat : Hunted as trophies and for ivory

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RhinoCritically EndangeredStatus : 4848 Black Rhinos in wildThreat : Hunted for trophies and their hornsas ingredients for traditional Asian medicines

Saiga AntelopeCritically EndangeredStatus : 40,000 left in wildThreat : Hunted for meat, skin and horns

1RHINOCEROS

95 % decline inpopulation inthelast 40 years

Right sleeve

Left sleeve Body

Collar

Modular view of the Hunting jacket

Transformation of hunting jacketinto a a Rhino trophy

2TIGER

3MOUNTAIN GORILLA

880 left in wild

body Sleeve

Transformation of hunting jacketinto a Mountain Gorilla

4ASIANELEPHANT

35000 Elephants are killed every year

RightSleeve

Ear Body

Transformation of hunting jacketinto a hunted Asian Elephant trophy

5SAIGA ANTELOPE

95% populationdecline in the last 15 years

Transformation of Bush trousersinto Saiga Antelope’s limbs

The Hunter becomes the Hunted

Asian Elephant Saiga Antelope Mountain GorillaTiger Rhino

HUNTER JACKETTransformation

Asian Elephant Saiga Antelope Mountain Gorilla Tiger

The Hunter becomes the Hunted

Rhino

Embodying Ethics

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Embodying Ethics is an attempt of creating a Criti-cal Design positioning to produce Socially Respon-sive design. The objects question the narrative of production, its material, origin, manufacturing but also challenges the narrative of consumption, creating new interaction and social experiences. The focus of this work is to examine designs ability to ask carefully crafted questions. The objects question ethics, create dilemma, provoke debate, raise awareness and allows design to deal with more complex human emotions and values. The objects in this series justify for their existence as they replace values of consumption and destruc-

tion with reflection and appreciation.

CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS, LONDONMA Project, 2010

The hunter jacket transforms into a Mountain Ram trophy. This hunting jacket questions the ethics of hunting as a sport. There is a sense in which the hunting outfit empowers without guilt, but then it reminds us of the ultimate source of this potency- the act of slaying a living creature and transforming it into an object, a decorative accessory, a trophy. Rather than condemning the hunter outright, this sculptural garment aims to enable us to recognize the hunter in ourselves.

HUNTER JACKET

Material : Tweed

This leather pant questions the ethics of consuming animal hide. The trouser fits a person and can transform into a metaphorical represen-tation of cow, making reference to its origin and the mass commodification of living beings into a

mass manufactured product.

Material : Cowhide

LEATHER TROUSER

A blond wood chair with an upholstery that trans-forms into a shadow of a tree. A reflection on the mass consumption of rainforest and brings in focus the issue of deforestation and destruction

of animal habitat.

Material : wood

SHADOW CHAIR

Nike

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Part of the Apparel Design team at Nike European HQ in Netherlands. Designed sportswear collec-tions for Nike accounts like Footlocker, JD and Nike retail store. Worked across 3 sportswear category :

Running, Basketball and Football.

APPAREL DESIGNER 1Nike EMEA, Netherlands

The hunter jacket transforms into a Mountain Ram trophy. This hunting jacket questions the ethics of hunting as a sport. There is a sense in which the hunting outfit empowers without guilt, but then it reminds us of the ultimate source of this potency- the act of slaying a living creature and transforming it into an object, a decorative accessory, a trophy. Rather than condemning the hunter outright, this sculptural garment aims to enable us to recognize the hunter in ourselves.

FA/HO 12 western europeproduct creation

The hood features dynamic fit. The overlay panel is lined with sherpa that helps in keeping warm. An elastic chord and toggel in the hood creates

helps in adjusting the fit of the hood.

Keep me warm

WINDRUNNER

FA/HO 12 western europeproduct creation

The design features of this Flight sportswear collection was derived from consumer insights after studying the market and consumers. One of the common behavioural pattern observed was the use of head phones over the hood during the FA/HO seasons. The insight was turned into a design feature by introducing circular mesh panels in the hood over the ears. The mesh panel amplifies better sound quality through the headphones and feeds into the the trend of

using headphones over a hood.

Consumer insight

BASKETBALL FLIGHT

Part of the Apparel Design team at Nike European HQ in Netherlands. Designed sportswear collec-tions for Nike accounts like Footlocker, JD and Nike retail store. Worked across 3 sportswear category :

Running, Basketball and Football.

FA/HO 12 western europeproduct creation

Nike Considered

The square hoodie is designed to reduce materi-al wastage as unlike a traditional hood the patterns are geometic and angular. The geomet-ric patterns of the hood help in reducing the wastage of material as they can be layed next to

each other and avoiding material wastage.

FORCE

The Mavericks

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Based on fictional characters from a self created narrative called 'The Mavericks'. As per the narra-tive an individual transforms into a creature when a person can overcome his fears, coming into possession of superhuman strength. Each of the 5 creatures represent the 5 outfits in this collection. Each creature is inspired from a wild animal, each outfit is a symbolic representation of the silhouette

and personality of each creature.

PEARL ACADEMY OF FASHIONBA Project, 2008

The hood features dynamic fit. The overlay panel is lined with sherpa that helps in keeping warm. An elastic chord and toggel in the hood creates

helps in adjusting the fit of the hood.

IZO

Huzz is a short tempered and grumpy character. When Huzz came into existence a big stone fell on his head because of which he became hot tempered and till now has the stone wrapped

around his tail which is also his main weapon.

HUZZ

RAF is the leader os the mavericks, he is equipped with two elephant like tusks. RAF is brave and intelligent, he can pierce through walls and lift tons of weight with the two strong

tusks.

RAF

Tobo is a lazy bone and loves to sleep. I created Tobo as a very strong creature with muscular arms and a tiny head. His main weapon is his head which is as hard as titanium and Pierce through any wall or obstacle. He uses his big fist to create

momentum and hump through obstacles.

TOBO

Diego is the oldest member of the mavericks. He is bulky and fat, his body is covered with blubber that is extremely thick and hard. He is slow and slides on his abdomen to move. He is also the most experienced member and wise and makes all the decisions* his main weapon are the two

teeth in the front.

DEIGO

Re-culture

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Dear o’ Deer, 2014Ceramic planter

Re-culture, a Delhi-based design collaborative. Rohan has a background in industrial & fashion design, and Kriti Chaudhary is a ceramicist and product designer. As a team, they believe in ideas that are generated through the design process and culture at large. In their products, they aim to achieve a combination of enlightenment and enchantment by re-culturing the language of everyday things. Projecting personalities onto inanimate objects to encapsulate a sense of playfulness and ambiguity. Making strange to encourage people to rethink the normal and promote a critical consciousness, playful as opposed to a

didactic experience.

Dear o’ Deer is an indoor / outdoor ceramic planter that works on the juxtaposition of the dead and the living. This planter borrows its visual language and decorative value from an animal ‘trophy’ and makes reference to the reward system associated with hunting. It questions the ethics embodied in hunting and reminds us of the ultimate source of this potency—the act of slaying a living creature and

transforming it into a decorative accessory.

www.rohan-chhabra.comhello@rohan-chhabra.com

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Born in India in 1987, Rohan started with a degree in Fashion (2008) from Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi and then went onto win a full scholarship to pursue Masters in Industrial Design (2010) at Central Saint Martins, London. Rohan's MA thesis ‘Embodying ethics’ received critical acclaim for its craftsmanship and for its socially informed, relevant and responsive nature. The focus of his work is to use design to de-familiarise everyday objects, making strange to encourage people to rethink the normal; to question accepted ideas about function, beauty, need

and progress.

After graduation he worked as a Product Designer with sports-wear label Nike at its European HQ in Netherlands for 2 years (2010 -2012). Since 2013, Rohan decided to work independently on Project Endangered' which aims to inform the issue of extinc-tion of critically endangered species. The project recently won 3 international design and art awards and raised thousands of dollars from sales proceeds which funded conservation e�orts in Asia and Africa. Rohan has further taken the initiative to conserv-ing wildlife and developed 'Project A.I.D' (Animals in danger), a commercial range of clothing and accessories. The project will be

exhibited at Milan Salone 2015.

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Profile