Meet Saira Mary Netto

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Saira Mary Netto. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Saira Mary below.

Saira Mary, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I believe that creativity is everywhere and the more you are aware of it, the more you will notice it. There was a lot of this awareness that was instilled in me while I completed my studies in Fibers. And one of the main reasons for this was that I was surrounded by wonderful growing artists and designers from all walks of life.

I saw the time and effort that went into each aspect of every project they worked on and realized that so many of the magical things that I appreciated as a child was created through long, arduous processes that involved the hard work of the people behind it. There was this newfound appreciation for art and the small things around me that made life better and more colorful.

This appreciation has kept my creativity alive and I continue to keep my eyes open as I go on walks and see the way a store window in decorated, or go into a new shop to appreciate the texture of a coat.

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

I grew up in Kerala, India where there was a huge emphasis on textiles around me. The artisans I was surrounded by showed me a whole world of possibilities surrounding textile techniques. And then, this love for cloth turned into a career path as I did my Bachelors and Masters in Fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design. There, I truly found my style as a designer and my love for surface design. I worked in the industry in fashion and interiors honing my skills in print and pattern. And now, I continue with my work in fashion, selling handcrafted repeat patterns.

My love for handcrafted, traditional illustration and vibrant colors come through in my prints and I enjoy designing patterns that show the intervention of hand made design processes in a time that revolves around fast processes and AI. One of the characteristics of fibers that I was always drawn to was versatility. The different possibilities and paths you can take with a textile design career seem endless and I continue to enjoy exploring and learning my field.

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

Three important qualities that I value as a designer are an openness to trying new things, a thirst for knowledge and curiosity !

However far along one is in their career, I always feel that there is something new that can be learnt and an open mind can be the key to changing the trajectory of your career for good.

These three qualities have helped me in so many ways, the first being that I never say no to an opportunity, and that has led me to different scenarios that have enhanced my knowledge and understanding of myself as a designer.

There are an array of new programs, techniques and updates that come out every day and can make your life easier as a designer and challenge your way of thinking as well. And so, to those in the early stages of their career paths, I would say to experiment and have fun ! Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way and always have room in your mind for growth.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

There are times when there is a lot going on, deadlines are tight and schedules are packed. In those moments it is easy to feel overwhelmed and question how everything is going to get done. What really helps me during those times, is to make a checklist and take one step at a time. Sometimes looking at the big picture can be overwhelming and segmenting it into parts helps the process.

It is also important to keep time for yourself, keep time to do something small that you love, it could be drinking a cup of coffee in silence or taking a walk. But these things can really help to keep the mind at peace and refreshed for your next work task or schedule.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sairamarynetto100.myportfolio.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saira-mary-netto-aa50a9206