With the desire to create clothes that could tell stories about Goa, Vaibhav Sharma and Rene Verma set up their clothing line Siesta o’Clock in 2019, after years of working in traditional media and digital media.

Narrating how it all began, Vaibhav recalls that while he has always liked heavy metal prints, he began incorporating a lot of vibrant, printed shirts into his wardrobe after moving to Goa. Alongside this, they were inspired by Rene’s digital media work with local brands and decided to launch their own brand, starting with a collection of unique prints that they showcased on Instagram. “We were drawn to marine-inspired prints and surprisingly, they turned out to be a crowd favourite too,” recalls Rene. The brand has grown steadily since then.

Bright, happy, quirky, and laidback are what Siesta o’Clock is synonymous with. “Our brand is that feeling of being utterly content and in harmony with the universe,” says Vaibhav.

As a brand that truly believes in ‘slow is better’, the couple doesn’t work on what would conventionally be classified as collections, unified by a theme. “Through our patterns and fabrics, we try to stick closely to a Goa narrative and what it means to live and breathe this life in all its colours and seasons,” says Vaibhav.

Their Artist Edit range is one of the cornerstones on which Siesta o’Clock is built. “Whether it’s a tryst with a family of sleepy balcao cats or obsessing over seasonal blooms and Goa’s rich biodiversity, we work with artists to turn these experiences into a design story. These works are exclusive to us,” shares Rene. Every artist they have worked with, they say, brings a fresh perspective of Goa by combining research with their lived experience here. Prints here are inspired by the windows of Fontainhas, the garrafao that were traditionally used to store feni, Goa’s famous breads, etc. One of their most recent prints was a take on the mangroves of Chorao and the many flora and fauna discoveries on the artist’s walking path. “One of the most-loved prints called Goa Diaries has been a bestseller with its abolim flowers, cashews, and the flame-throated bulbul making a stunning pattern,” says Rene.

Siesta o’Clock focuses on comfort first. The two love an anti-fit. So there is the oversized silhouette for womenswear – which allows for the print to catch one’s eye. For men, they favour regular fit; half sleeve shirts in breathable fabrics.

On request, they use sustainable fabrics like organic cotton.

And the love from locals, in particular, has been overwhelming, they say. “Locals don’t just connect with the brand for bringing in familiar stories and elements but will often add to our repertoire of knowledge by adding an anecdote,” says Vaibhav, adding that locals are also appreciative of the brand talking about the lesser-known side of their hometown.

Their clothes are made in a small workshop and efforts are made to upcycle as many fabric scraps in the form of buntings, and gift wraps. “We also try to run a paperless office, and keep packaging as minimal as possible,” says Vaibhav.

The brand has recently collaborated with a Goa-based small business Lost Vedas that works with women artisans in the villages to make bamboo products. “We collected an assortment of fabric scraps from our workshop and worked in tandem with the brand to craft a range of handmade bamboo bags. These are all one-of-a-kind and come in different shapes and forms,” says Vaibhav, adding that there are also plans to get into fabric accessories.

Their studio in Socorro, that’s nearing completion will allow patrons to browse and buy at leisure and get a glimpse into designs that sometimes don’t make it to the website. Vaibhav says, “This will also be an extension of our personal design aesthetic that is all about infusing a bit of warmth, colour, and vibrance into everything.”

Picture Credit: Hemant Parab