Designer Abarna Kugathasan Merges Tamil Traditions with Kitsch in Kitschy Couture Label

Abarna Kugathasan, a designer based in Pforzheim, operates the fashion label Kitschy Couture, which blends Tamil cultural heritage with kitsch aesthetics and addresses themes of migration. In an interview, she explained that her collections often originate from personal narratives and emotions, such as her experiences growing up in Germany with Tamil heritage. Her work incorporates traditional Tamil craftsmanship, including techniques learned from her mother, a tailor specializing in saris, reinterpreted into contemporary wearable pieces. Kugathasan views fashion as a tool for political expression and cultural celebration, creating spaces where identity can be explored freely. The label's pieces are produced in Pforzheim, and she encourages young designers with migration backgrounds to share their authentic stories.