Fashion Street in Mumbai, India, is more than just a shopping destination; it’s a vibrant cultural hub pulsating with energy, style, and history. Nestled in the heart of the city, this iconic street market boasts over 150 vendors offering a diverse array of fashion, from vintage finds to contemporary creations and designer-inspired pieces. But Fashion Street is an experience that goes beyond clothing. It’s a place where food, music, and the city’s dynamic architecture blend together, creating a unique atmosphere that draws locals and tourists alike. It’s even rumored to be a fantastic spot for a date, adding to its multifaceted appeal.
Now, The Sims™ is bringing the essence of this bustling locale to players worldwide with the new Sims 4 Fashion Street Kit. To capture the authentic spirit of Mumbai’s fashion scene, The Sims has partnered with Shruti Sitara Singh, a celebrated fashion expert deeply rooted in Mumbai’s culture. This collaboration ensures the kit delivers a comprehensive and genuine wardrobe reflecting the vibrant colors, bold patterns, iconic silhouettes, and trendy statement pieces that define Fashion Street style.
Shruti Sitara Singh is not just a fashion expert; she is a Mumbai native who embodies the city’s creative energy. As an art-meets-fashion curator, she weaves immersive narratives across art, music, theater, design, and culture. Her impressive resume includes collaborations with the Fashion Design Council of India, spearheading India’s first digital fashion week, and serving as creative director for Lakmé Fashion Week. While her expertise in the broader fashion world is undeniable, it’s her personal history with Mumbai’s fashion scene, and Fashion Street in particular, that makes her the perfect collaborator for this exciting kit.
“My first shopping experience was when I was in fourth grade,” Shruti Singh recalls. “My mother had taken my sister and I to Fashion Street, and we were like ‘what is going on? There’s something known as shopping?’ That concept didn’t exist to me before that.” This early encounter sparked a lifelong connection with Fashion Street. Even now, despite her established position in the upper echelons of Indian fashion, Singh remains captivated by the unique charm of Fashion Street. “I love bargaining. That’s what makes Fashion Street, Fashion Street. It’s a heaven for shopaholics, and it’s a mind-boggling experience. Fashion Street is an experience of its own.”
The Sims 4 Fashion Street Kit is not merely inspired by Mumbai style; it’s intrinsically linked to the very fabric of the city and its renowned Fashion Street. Mumbai, often called “The City of Dreams,” attracts people from across India and neighboring countries with its myriad opportunities. This convergence of cultures and ethnicities is vividly reflected in the diverse tapestry of styles found on Fashion Street.
“The Fashion Street Kit is inspired by a lot of India, and of course Mumbai,” Singh elaborates. “It’s inspired by the Indian handloom (weaving) industry, which is preserving and rendering a beautiful picture of our age-old heritage, known worldwide for its richness and purity of its textiles. Each piece is adorned with lively colors and prints specific to different cultures, because Mumbai, the City of Dreams, is a melting pot.” The kit beautifully encapsulates this vibrant fusion, offering a range of items suitable for all Sims, from delicate nose rings and henna tattoos to stylish sandals, flowing wrap skirts, and asymmetrical vests – some of Singh’s personal favorites.
Sophia Lee, Senior Concept Artist for The Sims, highlights the meticulous process behind the kit’s creation: “Since our team could not visit Mumbai, we worked virtually with Shruti to deliver designs that are relevant to the latest trends on the streets of Mumbai while incorporating traditional themes throughout the kit.” Lee also expresses her personal excitement for the full-body evening gown, a piece that “brings in-game tasteful modern design elements to a traditional saree,” showcasing the thoughtful blend of contemporary and classic styles within the kit.
One of the standout pieces, the wrap skirt, draws direct inspiration from the women of the Koli fishing community in Mumbai, who have been an integral part of the city’s coastal life for centuries. “Fisherwomen usually wear a sari,” Singh explains, noting the regional variations in sari draping styles across India. The Fashion Street Kit’s wrap skirt is a tribute to the practical and elegant way Koli women drape their saris for their demanding profession. “It’s easy breezy, it’s more like a skirt because they have to walk a lot and go into the ocean to fish, that’s why it’s above the knee and tucked in, so it doesn’t go into the water. It’s a beautiful silhouette.” This detail exemplifies the kit’s commitment to capturing authentic cultural nuances.
Sheila Judkins, Director of Global Brand Management for The Sims, emphasizes the broader vision behind these kits: “With kits, The Sims is creating an immersive experience where people, places and experiences can be discovered, and our players from around the world can experiment with these distinctly unique mini collections of curated content.” Shruti Singh shares her aspirations for players engaging with The Sims 4 Fashion Street Kit: “I would like players to experience Mumbai, to understand the culture, to understand the clothing, and how comfortable, region-specific and vibrant the prints are; and how colourful the culture is. I want the players to know more about Mumbai, and experience it through their own versions of how they play [with the kit].”
The Sims™ 4 Fashion Street Kit became available on October 5, 2021, for PC and Mac via Origin™ and Steam®, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One systems, inviting players to infuse their Sims’ wardrobes with the dynamic and colorful spirit of Mumbai Fashion Street.
