James Ferreira

James Ferreira Biography

James Ferreira is one of the veteran fashion designers from India. ‘James Ferreira’ designer label was founded by him. He is a pioneer in the Indian Fashion Industry who has started his career in Indian fashion industry in the middle 1970’s. The designer lives and works out of the iconic 47-G Bungalow at Khotachiwadi, one of the last surviving Heritage villages of Mumbai. He has been a part of Indian fashion, Textile and media business in the formative years. Ferreira is also an active member of the URBZ group which aims at preserving heritage towns and areas within the metros. As a fashion designer, he is considered a master draper whose garments in predominantly natural fabrics;

James Ferreira was born in 1956, to Owen and Thelma Ferreira in Mumbai. His father was a hockey Olympian. His mother had Portuguese ancestors settled in India. Since school days James was interested in designing clothes and keenly observed stylish figures. He happened to read an article illustrating the works of designer Pierre Cardin in 1964, which prompted him to take fashion designing as his career. He did tailoring course at the Sheroo Coopers academy of tailoring in Mumbai during the period 1976-1978. He also completed a course in commercial art at Sir J.J. School of Art.

He began his career designing for Purple Pussycat in 1976, which was one of the earliest designer wear boutiques in Mumbai belonging to high profile people. Then he worked with a host of reputed textile houses, boutiques and private clients. He has also worked in British Designer Zandra Rhodes in 1982 as a designer and later became Creative Head at the Boutiques Bada Saab and First Lady. In 1992, he started a studio for his namesake label ‘James Ferreira’. His recent work is the launch of collection of Diamond Jewelry in collaboration with Gehna Jewelers in 2013.

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Updated: March 11, 2014