Dina Thacker is a self-taught designer who has developed her love of colors and passion for drawing into a thriving fashion label – ISHKA. Bombay born Dina is now based in Singapore and has clients in nearly every corner of the globe.
Ishka, the name derived from her 2 daughters Kavisa & Isha portrays her love and passion in every creation. Her exclusive clients are from Dubai, Vienna, Zurich, Geneva and London and they comprise both Asians and Caucasians, spread across Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Middle East, Central Europe, UK, Russia, Mexico and the United States. Dina's target audience are women in their 30's who understand fashion, appreciate tradition, have a modern outlook and like to stand out in a crowd, be it a casual tea party, an evening party or a social function.
Owning an ISHKA is not for everyone. It is not retailed but presented in private events, which are strictly by invitation only. According to Dina, the most satisfying aspect of being a designer is the opportunity to create a synergy in the workmanship of the pieces that Ishka creates, which takes its cue from the traditions of the countries where she exhibits. Dina finds inspiration for her work through her travels. Her favorite destination is Vienna, Austria.
The intricate fusion work heightened by simplicity is how Dina describes her label. It is her Ghada work (Persian embroidery) of birds and flowers which has won her a lot of appreciation. Another combination is the Phulkari – Piha embroidery. The pulled thread work in which the thread is pulled to create a lace like effect, is another style perfected by Dina.
Despite the long working hours, Dina constantly strives to create a collection better than her previous one. She proudly says, “I'm confident that every creation of mine will be well received, since I give it my 100 percent.”