The name Absent Findings reflects two intertwined stories. The first is Singh’s personal journey: growing up in Dubai, his childhood was secure, almost like a bubble — sheltered, stable, yet limiting in self- discovery. It was only later, while studying finance and accounting at the Gies College of Business in Illinois, that Singh began to experiment, meeting people with very different lives and perspectives. In this environment, while he was often “absent” from the classes he was supposed to attend, he was instead finding the obsessions that would shape his creative path. This tension between absence and discovery remains at the heart of the brand, echoing the consequential steps of any creative journey.  

The second reference is drawn from Max Ernst, one of Singh’s favorite artists. Ernst once suggested that when an artist undergoes inner turmoil, he hides from the world — absent on the surface — yet during this withdrawal his inner world fills with inspiration. When he reemerges, it is with some of his most significant work. For Singh, this idea of being “absent” while gathering inspiration, only to find meaning and creation afterward, perfectly embodies the cyclical process of artistic growth.  

Central to Absent Findings’ philosophy is a commitment to repurposing heirloom saris and other forgotten fabrics, as well as working with surplus deadstock textiles. By giving new form to materials already rich with history, the brand extends their lifelines, embedding stories of heritage into a contemporary design language. This approach grounds Absent Findings in sustainability while preserving cultural memory through cloth.