From her Canadian birthplace and relocating to the UK during her teenage years, Shilpa Bilimoria-Cherry cultivated her distinctive style amidst the traditional ambiance of a Gujarati household and the shift from the 90s west coast of Canada to the dynamic life of London. Her roots trace back to the Darji community in Gujarat, where Darji, meaning tailor, encapsulates her family's legacy. Ancestrally, both her maternal and paternal lines were dedicated tailors, shaping garments across India, Sri Lanka, and Africa during the colonial-era migrant movements.
About me
Driven by her lifelong passion for crafting and textiles nurtured during her upbringing, Shilpa delved into a formal education and a career in the fashion industry. The fruition of her efforts materialised in the establishment of the House of Bilimoria, a label embodying ethical and sustainable practices. The brand made its debut in an off-schedule fashion show at London Fashion Week in 2008. House of Bilimoria's collections are crafted through upcycling vintage, second-hand, and heirloom fabrics, alongside collaborations with fair trade initiatives and artisans in Kolkata. Shilpa's philosophy extends beyond environmental sustainability to intertwine themes of identity and heritage. Through the medium of textiles, she weaves a narrative that fosters a profound connection and storytelling experience. She has shared this angle on sustainability with audiences at Nu Bride the Wedding Show 2019 & Most Curious Wedding Fair 2020 as a Sustainability Panellist. In 2007, she was selected as one of 10 finalists in ‘The British Sari Story’ nationwide competition by Bridging Arts. This project was presented as part of the V&A book British Asian Style: Fashion and Textiles published in 2010. In 2008, she returned to judge The British Sari Story competition. Teaching since 2007, she’s been one of the longest standing teachers at Little Hands Design a CIC that’s ethos revolves around sustainable fashion, and equipping the next generations with the skills needed to make their own clothes and accessories. In 2012, she established World Women Wembley, an initiative to bring creatives, makers together with skills-building workshops encouraging them to set up businesses inspired by their talents. She is passionate about sharing skills and knowledge with key roles at Brent’s International Women’s Day Events and was featured as one of the People of Wembley Park in a short film and book. In addition to her accomplishments with House of Bilimoria, Shilpa Bilimoria-Cherry spends time working with esteemed luxury fashion houses during London & Milan Fashion Weeks, and on various occasions throughout the year.
Rooted in Lineage
The Pattern
-
Darzi दर्ज़ी — translates to ‘the business of a tailor’. Born into a Gujarati family, with both my maternal and paternal sides belonging to the same community, the sewing machine was more of a common household appliance than something specialist. To me, it was normal that the majority of items I wore as a child were hand-crafted by my Grandfathers, and later, by my Mother. It was this craft and skill that intrigued and spoke to me. It was where I felt most comfortable, fascinated, and in awe. My earliest lessons in how to operate sewing machines came from my Grandparents.
-
When it came time to find my own path and vocation, the visual arts were what felt most compelling—although, upon these later years of reflection, I realised that I had a natural mental flair for maths and science too. With both parents in banking and accounting, turning to that sector didn’t feel at all inspiring or innate. Instead, leaning on my grandparents' examples, I found myself on a path that had been walked before: the world of textiles and garment making. This formalised with a GCSE, an A-Level, and eventually a degree in Design for Fashion & Textiles. It was the known and, more importantly, the acceptable path; because, if there was no clear career at the end of my studies, was I even a proper Gujarati girl?
-
Once I had landed in life—and in my first job in the industry—I thought I had found where I belonged. I was rudely awakened by the reality of fashion; it wasn't the creative, hands-on world I imagined, but the complete opposite. This led me to leave the traditional workplace as quickly as I had entered it. I dived straight into the deep end, simultaneously navigating motherhood and birthing a brand that bore my family’s namesake: House of Bilimoria.
I have spent the last twenty years here—navigating life as an entrepreneur, freelancer, and creator. The brand has lived through many reincarnations, bringing to life three very distinct stories: Landed, Nile, and Jina. It was after this trio of collections that the ground beneath what felt so certain began to shapeshift.
-
It is now that this shapeshifting has finally reached a point where I am able to articulate it; to exist in the liminal space between a packaged product and a journey, and to feel that it is the right time to become visible again. As much as this journey takes place in the quiet moments between the throes of life, it is one I know will grow with light.
House of Bilimoria is now my umbrella—the one that encapsulates all the aspects of myself, pieces of me, and the jigsaw of this life. The jigsaw has taken on its embodied form, built upon the foundations of my own spirit and name, Śilpa, and its roots in the Shastras. The deepest parts of my being are drawn to numbers, the ancient creative sciences, and the harmony that exists in the ethers where science and spirituality intersect.