Vino Supraja, a 45-year-old designer from Vandavasi, Tamil Nadu, has emerged as a global advocate for sustainable fashion, earning accolades for her unique approach that intertwines traditional Tamil culture with contemporary design. Recently honored as a Global Sustainable Fashion Trailblazer at the British Parliament, Supraja's journey from a small temple town to international fashion weeks is a testament to her innovative spirit and commitment to ethical fashion. 

Supraja's path to fashion was unconventional. After earning a degree in architecture in Chennai, she explored animation and worked as a TV presenter and radio jockey. A move to China in 2011 led her to enroll in a fashion design course at the Shanghai outpost of the International Fashion Academy, Paris. Her graduation collection, inspired by The Kite Runner, won the Golden Laureate award at Shanghai Fashion Week in 2014. 

Her designs have since graced runways at Brooklyn Fashion Week (2016), New York Fashion Week (2018), and London Fashion Week (2023), often drawing from Tamil cultural elements. Notably, she reimagines the vibrant costumes of Therukoothu, an ancient Tamil street theatre, and incorporates Bhavani jamakkalam stripes into her collections. 

Supraja's brand emphasizes sustainability, encouraging customers to buy less and even offering to buy back her products. She collaborates with local artisans, ensuring fair wages and preserving traditional crafts. Her work not only showcases the richness of Tamil heritage but also sets a precedent for ethical practices in the fashion industry.

As she continues to challenge industry norms, Supraja remains a beacon of how fashion can honor cultural roots while advocating for a more sustainable future.