Frasin Salim lives in a world of colours. This Kozhikode-based lass ought to be a role model for a lot of smart youngsters who dream big, but seldom dare to pursue their dreams. Success lies in identifying one's latent talents and then going all for them, a fact which Frasin realized quite early in life. What egged her on was her decision not to tread the beaten path, but to take the road less taken.
An entrance to the National Institute of Design via an OBC quota in which she won the first rank, brought her to the powerhouse of designing, from where she is all set for post graduation in Design for Retail Experience.
When viewed from the general quota, it was a fourth rank that Frasin had scored in the all-India level entrance test. She’s a bundle of joy and excitement as she talks about her aspirations and what spurred her on to go for the best.
In a world of colours
Right from childhood, colours always fascinated her. This in-born connect with colours assumed a more serious dimension with the full backing of her parents, father MKA Salim and mother Shameera Salim. How to use colours to highlight each mood, emotion and feel is what she learnt first. That each colour has its identity and ought to be treated with awe was a fact which the medium of painting taught her.
The painting contests she took part in while in school carried her a long way in seeing the effect and possibilities of colours as seen from different perspectives. Her innate interest in handicrafts, artefacts and fancy designs were signs of what was to come.
A bold decision
Unlike all students, Frasin was seldom plagued by doubts. What next, was a question which never bothered her. She had already identified what would bring out the best in her and that was undoubtedly the colours she had dabbled in. From then on, it was with single-minded determination that Frasin went about trying to find ways to bring her aspirations to fruition… a quest she undertook all on her own. Not for a moment did she allow herself to be swayed by other calls.
Frasin finally zeroed in on the colourful world of fashion. Usually, students take entrance tests to design institutes of repute only after intense and extensive preparations. But Frasin would have none of these. She believed in her innate sense of fashion, passion for colours and creativity. These were the solid pillars on which she framed her future. Her friend Shivani, who was taking professional lessons for the same test, chipped in with her notes and this too helped Frasin to get set for the entrance. Ultimately, the factors that fetched her a first rank were her creative concepts and her natural flair for designing.
After completing her degree course from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kannur, Frasin had been working with actor and celebrity fashion designer Poornima Indrajith in her design studio Pranaah, in Kochi.
Though she joined the studio as fashion designer, the experience she got from handling Pranaah’s website and photoshoots gave her a lot of exposure to the world of fashion, a positive factor which maximized her chances for the coveted seat.
Frasin sees immense possibilities opening up through her decision to opt for Design for Retail Experience. This could mean interacting directly with consumers to know their preferences, concepts and big design ideas. Besides, this would open up chances for a direct entry into the industry. Frasin’s dreams are big. Armed with her experience and love for fashion, she’s gearing up to give her best to the most glamorous industry in the world, its fickleness notwithstanding.
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