LEAVETHEREST

Once you drop out, there’s no going back. Harsh of LEAVETHEREST is one of these rebels who turned things around once he finally admitted that mechanical engineering wasn’t for him. After a year of learning unnecessary physics, he moved on to better and more creative things. He spent the next year exploring different forms of design, learning Photoshop, visiting different textile capitals in India, and absolutely savaging YouTube to its optimum use for apprenticeship. When he was done watching a few videos, he became a self-proclaimed skilled operator of the screen-printing machine because he ordered one of those from Ludhiana for nearly a lakh only to end up being covered in the rubbery emulsions of the paint, from head to toe. Solo splurging and solo learning throughout! Fast forward to 2020, when he ultimately launched LEAVETHEREST; he succeeded in printing 600 tees for the first drop with his own two hands. Slow and steady does win the race after all? That’s a debate for another day.

One would think that being based out of Surat catalyses the production for a clothing label, but we forget that Surat is popular for polyester and nylon fabrics, along with textiles that are majorly used in making Indian traditional wear. LEAVETHEREST is all about great-quality cotton and denim. This also means that it is not guaranteed that you will find skilled tailors who can work well with these fabrics in Surat. Bottom line: Harsh scoured many different cities in India and delegated the whole production of his garments accordingly. Essentially, he is a “one-man army” by definition, seeing how he initiated this creation on his own and still looks after each corner of LEAVETHEREST to the dot; from handling social media, the website, modelling, designing, and delegating, he has pulled off everything seamlessly.

The rustic-paired-with-masculinity designs of LEAVETHEREST assemble a sturdy look that you can interrupt to elevate with your own styling and persona. Each silhouette looks intentional in order to make the brand name recognisable. A range of pants fit for any fit, if you ask me; you just need the eye for it.

A diligent car & automobile fanatic, Harsh has always been immersed in the design and blueprint of a vehicle. Labelling COMPLEX and HYPEBEAST as his “Bhagavad Geeta”, he told me about his love for Maison Margiela, A Cold Wall and Supreme. I was on cloud 9 when he brought up Bliss Foster and talked of his genius. I can now comfortably say that Harsh has brilliant taste if he has been watching Bliss Foster talk for over 5 years. This only makes the news of possible LEAVETHEREST furniture more viable. YES! Down the ambitious line of this label, there will be furniture and jewellery! Something to look forward to—something to splurge on!

In the meantime, watch out for them today at AYCS, cop a few pieces for me if you will. Stay Fresh!