Tribal Jewellery (Sikka Mala) Inspired Fashion Collection: A Convertible Office-to-Evening Capsule

Professionals increasingly move from workplace to social settings with no time to change, yet generic “day-to-night” styling rarely draws on cultural heritage. This paper proposes that heritage ornament can itself drive the transition. Using the Sikka Mala, the coin necklace of Indian tribal and folk adornment, it develops a convertible capsule built around a wine velvet waistcoat edged with silver-toned coin discs and chevron embroidery, worn with wide-leg velvet trousers. Two original instruments structure the work: a Three-Layer Translation Model (form, rhythm, sensation) and a Dual-Context Wearability Matrix that tests office restraint, evening expressiveness and transition effort. The outfit serves the workday, casual wear and party wear through styling and a few construction choices. The paper also discusses sustainability and ethical guidance for designing with tribal heritage.