2. Projects
1. Project Endangered, 2013
Independent project
2. Embodying ethics, 2010
MA, Central Saint Martins
3. Nike EHQ, 2010-12
Apparel Designer
6. Profile5. Re-culture, 2014
Collaboration
4. The Mavericks, 2008
BA, Pearl Academy of Fashion
INDEX
3. The Hunter becomes the Hunted
1
The project aims to inform the issue of extinction of
critically endangered species like the elephant, the
mountain gorilla, the tiger and the rhino. A future
without these animals is dark and disturbing. As
they are an important part of the eco-system. Their
survival is our hope for a sustainable future.By
designing a series of hunting outfits that turn into
representations of the animal under threat, reminds
us of our complicity in the problem. As merely a
fashion item, there is a sense in which the hunting
outfit empowers without guilt, but then it reminds
us of the ultimate source of this potency- the act of
slaying a living creature and transforming it into an
object, a decorative accessory, a trophy. Rather
than condemning the hunter outright, these sculp-
tural garments enable us to recognize the hunter in
ourselves. The aim is to create a disturbing experi-
ence that moves from aesthetics to moral reflection
.
Project Endangered, 2013
4. Tiger
Critically Endangered
Status : 3200 in wild
Threat : Hunted for trophies and their
body parts for traditional medicines in
South East Asia
CR
Asian Elephant
Critically Endangered
Status : 2400-2800 Sumatran Elephants in wild
Threat : Hunted as trophies and for ivory
CR
CR
CR
Rhino
Critically Endangered
Status : 4848 Black Rhinos in wild
Threat : Hunted for trophies and their horns
as ingredients for traditional Asian medicines
Saiga Antelope
Critically Endangered
Status : 40,000 left in wild
Threat : Hunted for meat, skin and horns
19. Transformation of Bush trousers
into Saiga Antelope’s limbs
Click here : Transformation video
20. The Hunter becomes the Hunted
Asian Elephant Saiga Antelope Mountain GorillaTiger Rhino
HUNTER JACKET
Transformation
21. Asian Elephant Saiga Antelope Mountain Gorilla Tiger
The Hunter becomes the Hunted
Rhino
22. Embodying Ethics
2
Embodying Ethics is an attempt of creating a Criti-
cal Design positioning to produce Socially Respon-
sive design. The objects question the narrative of
production, its material, origin, manufacturing but
also challenges the narrative of consumption,
creating new interaction and social experiences.
The focus of this work is to examine designs ability
to ask carefully crafted questions. The objects
question ethics, create dilemma, provoke debate,
raise awareness and allows design to deal with
more complex human emotions and values. The
objects in this series justify for their existence as
they replace values of consumption and destruc-
tion with reflection and appreciation.
CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS, LONDON
MA Project, 2010
23. The hunter jacket transforms into a Mountain
Ram trophy. This hunting jacket questions the
ethics of hunting as a sport. There is a sense in
which the hunting outfit empowers without guilt,
but then it reminds us of the ultimate source of
this potency- the act of slaying a living creature
and transforming it into an object, a decorative
accessory, a trophy. Rather than condemning the
hunter outright, this sculptural garment aims to
enable us to recognize the hunter in ourselves.
HUNTER JACKET
Material : Tweed
Click here : Transformation video
24. This leather pant questions the ethics of
consuming animal hide. The trouser fits a person
and can transform into a metaphorical represen-
tation of cow, making reference to its origin and
the mass commodification of living beings into a
mass manufactured product.
Material : Cowhide
LEATHER TROUSER
25. A blond wood chair with an upholstery that trans-
forms into a shadow of a tree. A reflection on the
mass consumption of rainforest and brings in
focus the issue of deforestation and destruction
of animal habitat.
Material : wood
SHADOW CHAIR
Click here : Transformation video
26. Nike
3
Part of the Apparel Design team at Nike European
HQ in Netherlands. Designed sportswear collec-
tions for Nike accounts like Footlocker, JD and Nike
retail store. Worked across 3 sportswear category :
Running, Basketball and Football.
APPAREL DESIGNER 1
Nike EMEA, Netherlands
27.
28. FA/HO 12 western europeproduct creation
The hood features dynamic fit. The overlay panel
is lined with sherpa that helps in keeping warm.
An elastic chord and toggel in the hood creates
helps in adjusting the fit of the hood.
Keep me warm
WINDRUNNER
29.
30. FA/HO 12 western europeproduct creation
The design features of this Flight sportswear
collection was derived from consumer insights
after studying the market and consumers. One of
the common behavioural pattern observed was
the use of head phones over the hood during the
FA/HO seasons. The insight was turned into a
design feature by introducing circular mesh
panels in the hood over the ears. The mesh
panel amplifies better sound quality through the
headphones and feeds into the the trend of
using headphones over a hood.
Consumer insight
BASKETBALL FLIGHT
31. FA/HO 12 western europeproduct creation
Nike Considered
The square hoodie is designed to reduce materi-
al wastage as unlike a traditional hood the
patterns are geometic and angular. The geomet-
ric patterns of the hood help in reducing the
wastage of material as they can be layed next to
each other and avoiding material wastage.
FORCE
32.
33.
34. The Mavericks
4
Based on fictional characters from a self created
narrative called 'The Mavericks'. As per the narra-
tive an individual transforms into a creature when a
person can overcome his fears, coming into
possession of superhuman strength. Each of the 5
creatures represent the 5 outfits in this collection.
Each creature is inspired from a wild animal, each
outfit is a symbolic representation of the silhouette
and personality of each creature.
PEARL ACADEMY OF FASHION
BA Project, 2008
35. The hood features dynamic fit. The overlay panel
is lined with sherpa that helps in keeping warm.
An elastic chord and toggel in the hood creates
helps in adjusting the fit of the hood.
IZO
36. Huzz is a short tempered and grumpy character.
When Huzz came into existence a big stone fell
on his head because of which he became hot
tempered and till now has the stone wrapped
around his tail which is also his main weapon.
HUZZ
37. RAF is the leader os the mavericks, he is
equipped with two elephant like tusks. RAF is
brave and intelligent, he can pierce through
walls and lift tons of weight with the two strong
tusks.
RAF
38. Tobo is a lazy bone and loves to sleep. I created
Tobo as a very strong creature with muscular arms
and a tiny head. His main weapon is his head
which is as hard as titanium and Pierce through
any wall or obstacle. He uses his big fist to create
momentum and hump through obstacles.
TOBO
39. Diego is the oldest member of the mavericks. He
is bulky and fat, his body is covered with blubber
that is extremely thick and hard. He is slow and
slides on his abdomen to move. He is also the
most experienced member and wise and makes
all the decisions* his main weapon are the two
teeth in the front.
DEIGO
40. Re-culture
5
Dear o’ Deer, 2014
Ceramic planter
Re-culture, a Delhi-based design collaborative. Rohan has
a background in industrial & fashion design, and Kriti
Chaudhary is a ceramicist and product designer. As a
team, they believe in ideas that are generated through the
design process and culture at large. In their products, they
aim to achieve a combination of enlightenment and
enchantment by re-culturing the language of everyday
things. Projecting personalities onto inanimate objects to
encapsulate a sense of playfulness and ambiguity. Making
strange to encourage people to rethink the normal and
promote a critical consciousness, playful as opposed to a
didactic experience.
Dear o’ Deer is an indoor / outdoor ceramic planter that
works on the juxtaposition of the dead and the living. This
planter borrows its visual language and decorative value
from an animal ‘trophy’ and makes reference to the reward
system associated with hunting. It questions the ethics
embodied in hunting and reminds us of the ultimate source
of this potency—the act of slaying a living creature and
transforming it into a decorative accessory.
41.
42.
43. www.rohan-chhabra.com
hello@rohan-chhabra.com
CR
Born in India in 1987, Rohan started with a degree in Fashion
(2008) from Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi and then went
onto win a full scholarship to pursue Masters in Industrial Design
(2010) at Central Saint Martins, London. Rohan's MA thesis
‘Embodying ethics’ received critical acclaim for its craftsmanship
and for its socially informed, relevant and responsive nature. The
focus of his work is to use design to de-familiarise everyday
objects, making strange to encourage people to rethink the
normal; to question accepted ideas about function, beauty, need
and progress.
After graduation he worked as a Product Designer with sports-
wear label Nike at its European HQ in Netherlands for 2 years
(2010 -2012). Since 2013, Rohan decided to work independently
on Project Endangered' which aims to inform the issue of extinc-
tion of critically endangered species. The project recently won 3
international design and art awards and raised thousands of
dollars from sales proceeds which funded conservation efforts in
Asia and Africa. Rohan has further taken the initiative to conserv-
ing wildlife and developed 'Project A.I.D' (Animals in danger), a
commercial range of clothing and accessories. The project will be
exhibited at Milan Salone 2015.
6
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