Meet Sukalp Bhatija

We recently connected with Sukalp Bhatija and have shared our conversation below.

Sukalp, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I believe the ability to be creative is a gift, not an acquired skill. You are either born creative and privileged enough to be nurtured in an open and positive environment by your parents and caretakers, or you’re not. A phrase I heard in one of my lectures in grad school that always resonated with me is, “Creativity thrives in positivity.” The way I interpret this is that all you need is a positive environment to thrive and be your most authentic self. I also define creativity as the ability to think outside the box, seek unconventional routes to solve problems, consider various perspectives rather than thinking in a straight line, possess a bold imagination, communicate unapologetically, and maintain an optimistic outlook. So basically, being a child.

Children are known for having vivacious imaginations and are often given a blank canvas that’s perceived as a clean slate for limitless possibilities or a playground with endless opportunities for playtime and exploration. Often, that way of seeing the world fades as we get older. Most tend to lose that sense of wonder and curiosity. However, playgrounds and blank canvases are where I see positivity flourish. Maintaining that sense of wonder in our adult environments, workspaces, and lifestyles is essential. “A creative adult is a child that survived” is something I always saw growing up on Tumblr and Pinterest—a quote that I still live by to this day. Maintaining that childlike curiosity has always been my driving force and my secret to keeping my creativity alive.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

At Sukushine, we weave the vibrant tapestry of South Asian heritage into every garment. Founded by Sukalp Bhatija, our brand blends traditional Indian textiles & techniques with contemporary designs. Each collection tells a unique story inspired by Sukalp’s childhood memories & India’s rich cultural narrative, transforming our clothing & accessories into meaningful pieces that celebrate & honor the artistry of South Asian craftsmanship
Sukushine is a whimsical alias my dad coined for me when we were brainstorming for my first email address in 2005. It has since been a constant reminder, urging me to shine in all my endeavors, regardless of their outcomes. This optimistic spirit fueled my passion for the arts, leading me to study Textile Design—as a way to reconnect with my South Asian roots. After 3 fast tracked years at the Maryland Institute College of Art, I was eager to blend my creative skillset with an entrepreneurial mindset. I turned to a Strategic Design & Management course at Parsons in New York City. Both the program and the vibrant city taught me the essentials for navigating a creative venture, while also anchoring it in genuine business value. Now, with a creative heart and a business mind, Sukushine, as an extension of Sukalp, is weaving the worlds of entrepreneurship & south asian design, all while emanating the luminous spirit my dad recognized in his 7-year-old daughter.
I chose to study textile design in college, knowing that my creative streak was not just a response from the move, but rather an innate skill that needed to be nurtured. Once again, my college decision stood out like a sore thumb, but by then I was a bit too enveloped in the possibilities of what Sukushine could be. Entering the world of textiles did exactly that. What I realized was that most techniques, fibers & dyes come from Indian or other South Asian countries. Life had come full circle in a way: struggling to stay connected to my culture led me into a profession that quite literally originated from my home country. I practiced as many techniques as I could in school & recreated the textiles I once admired with such ease.

After 3 fast tracked years of absorbing everything I could about textiles, I moved to New York City to study at Parsons. While I studied the strategy & management side of things to brush up my entrepreneurial skills, the city is what truly helped me flourish. Even in an overly saturated city like NYC, Sukushine & its story was authentic and real. For the first time, I felt like Sukushine was my home, something that always gave me a sense of familiarity and liveliness. It was only then that I knew Sukushine was just an extension of myself, my aspirations, and a result of my struggles to navigate a new life in a new world.

Since this epiphany and forming this 15 year long dream into something tangible, Sukushine exudes this authenticity through textiles, garments and bright hues, hoping to seamlessly weave together the worlds of tradition & modernity through my personal lens. Many of the collections are inspired by memories from India & America, then simplified into color stories, or a series of patterns, all while emanating the optimistic & creative spirit my dad recognized in his 7 year old daughter. Our new and annual collection will launch in Spring 2025, Titled Navaratna. During the year we participate in many pop up on the East Coast between Washington DC, Baltimore, New Jersey and New York City, along with some runway appearances during September to debut our collection for New York Fashion Week.

All our work can be found through our online presence ( website: shop.sukushine.com) ( instagram/tiktok: @sukushine)

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Finance/Marketing, Storytelling, and Authenticity

At the end of the day, a great product is only as good as its marketing strategy, and to be able to reach the right people, you need to be able to sell your product and its emotive Quality and value more than anything.
Money makes the world go round and round, and money does buy happiness, contrary to popular belief. Money is sometimes the only stepping stone to understanding the world, understanding deep rooted values of people and their relationship with money, and money makes or breaks dream businesses. I’m still learning about it everyday, its definitely one of the most important areas of knowledge.

A good story goes a long way. Its how we communicate our way of thinking, feeling, our imagination, our beliefs and lessons. Our varied perspectives and interpretations from telling and listening to stories is what makes us human. Its a skill that needs more practice, especially if you wish to share your work, your passion with an audience, you need to be able to communicate it well and connect with people.

Authenticity is that sparkle that catches ones attention. No matter the industry, field or interest, approach it with an authentic intention. Do something you really want to, not because you have to, its a world of a difference when you follow something you’re truly invested in versus something you’re societally pushed into doing. Be an original.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

In my experience, it is always better to know a lot of things about various subjects than to be an expert in one field. A great leader is not a great leader because they are experts at one thing, but because they have learned from their mistakes and failures from trying all sorts of different avenues. It is versatility and well roundedness that makes you the best fit.

One example that may resonate with my thinking connects to weight lifting. If going out on all our strengths means exercising the same muscle every session for a long period of time, then that means you’ll be walking around with 25 inch biceps with no defined deltoids, no core strength, 12 inch calves and zero lower body strength ( for those that can’t envision it, thats huge arms and very frail looking legs. ) Being well rounded means dividing your time between upper body, lower body, core, full body push vs pull days in the gym to be toned and strong all over. Some muscle groups will always be stronger than others, and the weak ones can get stronger with practice and time. I think the same logic applies with your work & personal life, especially if you’re an entrepreneur and looking to be the voice of a leader or build something. A more balanced and improving on areas where you aren’t as strong will always benefit.

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Image Credits

Photographers; Gianna Chun, Steven Lin, Manavi Singh, Ragini Subramanian

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