Having walked the walk with top fashion brands and designers for almost a decade of her
life, Sheryl Pinto a young and vibrant fashion designer, has drawn inspiration
from the experiences and taken the next step to create her very own label. The
label is Goan at heart and reflects the refreshing vibe Goa has to offer.
Her opening collection that was launched
recently at her studio, perfectly echoes her imagination and meticulous thought
process, which is a contemporary amalgamation that travels through the quaint
and lush villages of Goa. She says she draws inspiration from the picturesque
state of Goa, countries she travels to and from the works of Gianni Versace,
Ellie Saab, Vera Wang, Oscar Da Re Lanta, Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen.
Sheryl says, “After working with renowned fashion designers in
the industry for several years, I am now living my childhood dream and I look
forward to passionately growing this dream by leaps and bounds.”
The fresh colour palettes symbolise the pristine white churches,
clear blue skies, picturesque beaches, bright green paddy fields, the gold
shimmer of the sun kissing the sea and the subtle bling of the sand. The
ensembles are elegant and youthful. Her bridal couture collection, using high
quality lace, satin, tulle and embroidered fabrics will be customised to suite
and personalised to each of her bride’s requirement. Her label specialises in
pret wear and bridal couture.
Her studio is nestled in the quiet and peaceful Bhutea Bhatt
village of Vasco city, a place where it all began for her. She recalls how
growing up in her humble abode, with her parents, Ivette and Alfie Pinto, and
her two older siblings, fashion did not really hold that much significance as
it does now. “I still remember being all of six years and getting annoyed with
my mother for stitching exactly the same dress for my sister and me; I detested
the idea of twinning! From that very age I knew I wanted to be different, dress
different, and had my own sense of style. I would walk up to the tailor with my
mum but instruct and share my dress design with the tailor and wouldn’t be
satisfied if it wasn’t done my way,” says Sheryl.
During her 5th standard in school, she began maintaining a tiny
sketchbook of her own and started designing clothes for her dolls as a hobby.
“I would collect all leftover cloth pieces I could get my hands on and stitch
outfits for my dolls. My hobby soon turned into a passion, which I knew I
wanted to pursue as my career, she adds.
Back then the options to pursue this dream of hers in Goa were
limited, but she still went for it and enrolled herself for the vocational
course in dress making and designing at St Andrews Higher Secondary, Vasco. She
completed her higher secondary school education with the highest results. With
the support of her father, she moved to Mumbai to pursue a Diploma in Fashion
Designing with JD’s Institute of Fashion Technology.
“But I knew my heart belonged to Goa and while I had many
lucrative offers back in Mumbai, I decided to move back to Goa and seek
opportunities where I could nurture and develop this passion of mine. That is
when I was offered my first job with Sonali Design Salon in Vasco, where I
worked for three years before I joined internationally acclaimed fashion
designer, Wendell Rodricks. After my longest stint of eight years with Wendell,
where I honed my skills and gained all of my professional experience, I decided
to take a break,” she reveals.
After
this year long break, and with some persuasion from her husband and close
friends, she decided to come out with her own label, ‘SHERYL PINTO’, and store,
Sheryl Pinto Design & Studio.