Monthly Archives: October 2009

Ritu Beri

She began designing outfits for herself. This led inevitably…

Pankaj & Nidhi

It was just the beginning of the glittering life waiting ahead for…

Amit Aggarwal

A 2002 graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology…

Ritu Beri

Ritu Beri and her eponymous label need no introduction. Ritu graduated from Delhi University in 1987 and during the hiatus that followed she was driven to find something to occupy herself with. Given the sad lack of choice in Delhi at that time, she began designing outfits for herself. This led inevitably to creating clothes for her friends-and suddenly she was in business! She enrolled in the National Institute of Fashion Technology in 1988.

  • She was amongst the first batch of 25 students chosen from a large number of applicants country-wide when NIFT was affiliated to FIT, New York.

  • Launched studio ‘Lavanya’ in December 1990 which was an instant hit and sold out immediately.

  • Has won the coveted Creative Woman of the Year Award, Hind Gaurav Award, Bharat Nirman Award & Akea Best Delhi Designer Award in 1996.

  • Becomes the only Indian designer to be featured in Promostyl’s magazine Acustyl in 1997.

  • She was the first Indian designer to present in Paris.

  • Launched India’s most expensive book, ‘Firefly-A Fairy Tale’, retailing for 100,000 rupees (US$2,220) a copy.

  • The only Indian protégé of the master embroiderer Francois Lesage.

  • ‘Mahila Shiromani Award’ presented to her by India’s First Lady.

  • Won the ‘Millennium Achiever’s biographical record’, ‘Gem of India’ Award and ‘Pride of the millennium’ Award in recognition of her outstanding services to society and excellence in her chosen field of activity

This ‘High priestess of Indian Fashion’ dreams of seeing India as a "designer’s nirvana"  and, she very well is on the track to realize this dream. Her clients range from the former US President Mr. Bill Clinton, Moulin Rouge actress Nicole Kidman, Hollywood actress Andy Mcdowell, Supermodel Laetitia Casta, famous Parisian Socialite Mrs. Lagerdere, Mr. Langes Swarovski & The Swarovski family, Elizabeth Jagger and Jerry Hall, to the Prima Donna of Indian Movies-Madhuri Dixit, Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta and a bevy of other VIPs like Parmeshwar Godrej & Shobha De. Beri till date has designed uniforms for many corporate and institutional customers like Hotel Hyatt Regency, Delhi Police Band, Delhi mounted Police, Citizen Warden and Indian Olympic Association to name a few. The way she has ascended on the stairs to success declares that the world is her oyster-and she appears to have succeeded in prizing it open just a little bit.

You can get Ritu at:

12-B, LANE 5, ANUPAM GARDEN (NEAR COUNTRY CLUB),

SAINIK FARMS,

NEW DELHI

www.rituberi.com

Pankaj & Nidhi

The talented husband-wife designer duo, Pankaj and Nidhi are a renowned name in the Indian fashion fraternity, celebrated for their extraordinaire designs and a satchel full of awards.

Pankaj was innately inclined towards art and found his true calling in fashion designing. This made him graduate with top honors from the National Institute of Fashion Technology. He won the ‘Uma Nath Gold Medal’ for topping academics and the ‘Ritu Kumar’ Award for Best Graduating Collection 1995.

It was just the beginning of the glittering life waiting ahead for this designer. To get the practical knowledge of fashion and sharpen his skills, Pankaj worked with one of the India’s top designers, Rohit Bal as Head of Design for 10 years. During his tenure there, he met and married his colleague Nidhi, who is a bright and creative alumnus of N.I.F.T. She worked with one of India’s leading Export Firms, Creative Group, which designs & produces for some of the biggest labels in Europe.

In May 2006, Pankaj and Nidhi launched their eponymous label and become a venerable name of the Indian fashion in a very short span. They were honored with the Elle Style Award for Best Debutant Designer in 2008 and Elle Style Award for best Women’s Prêt-a-Porter in 2009. In October 2010 they also won the Grand First Prize at the International Apparel Federation’s International Fashion Awards at the World Apparel Convention in Hong Kong.

Celebrated for their “fresh & crisp sensibility”, this powerhouse couple pushes the envelope when it comes to style and elegance. Their creations are charming and spontaneous, with generous use of colors, inspired by craftsmanship, symbolic and cultural objects, Pankaj & Nidhi invent a contemporary language, create clothes that tell stories, for women who love freedom and authenticity and are always on a quest for originality.

Currently, Pankaj and Nidhi retail from the top stores of the country and also have two flagship stores, one in Crescent at The Qutab in New Delhi and one in Khar, Mumbai.

You can get Pankaj&Nidhi at:
www.pankajnidhi.com
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Amit Aggarwal

A 2002 graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology who has embarked his career with the display of his creation at the competitions held for the students across the orb indicates Amit Aggarwal who right now possesses his own label. The renowned designer is now known for his brand Morphe which he introduced in the year 2008.

At the prior juncture of his career the designer even worked under various apex personas’s including Tarun Tahiliani amongst the others. Gradually he was chosen by the Creative Impex to supervise their design team at the Creative Group which is defined as one of the alleged high end garment manufacturing companies.  Celebrated labels like Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Jean Paul Gaultier and Kenzo includes the clientele list of the Creative Group. The designer in alliance with the Creative Group instigated his 2008 ingress label, Morphe. 

Metamorphosis of raw influences, both fantastical and mundane, into clothes that are contemporary, eclectic and that transcend singular fads defines his prêt line. To enhance the beauty of a woman despite of the role she is performing or where is she sited, unified forms, shapes, materials and details are implemented by the designer. Amit is too careful and thinks twice before crafting his imagination. Accuracy is one of the major characteristic of his brand. The collections by Amit illustrate an eternal approach with its advancing beautiful and soothing artistic concept.  

The designer apart from receiving the tiara by Vogue of presenting one of the best shows at the India Fashion Week during his debut had accomplished to set a benchmark at the international level too. He even bagged the Debutant of the year award by the prominent magazines like Elle and Marie Claire.  Amit Aggarwal was approached by the Dutch DFA to be a part of their design delegation. The designer as well managed to be a part of the British Council’s Young Creative Entrepreneur Award and grab a nomination amongst the finalists for this prestigious Award.  He recently has won the Marie Claire Award for the Best Western-Wear Designer.

The designer is presently carrying his retail endeavor from ENSEMBLE at the Emporio mall, Delhi and very soon his signature essence of fusion and contemporary will be displayed at Ogaan.  Amit by next season will be ready with his own outlet at the Hauz Kauz village in Delhi.

You can get Amit Aggarwal at: 
www.morphe.in

Neeta Lulla

Neeta Lulla’s very long journey as a designer completes the 25th year. Having got married young, kids came in her life long before she realized the responsibilities attached with it. And for the position that Neeta holds today in the Indian fashion fraternity it’s hard to believe that at one point of time she had to choose between fashion and cooking which would have been more apt career option for a married girl. Thankfully enough, she choose fashion which won her the National award and since then there has been no looking back.

Neeta Lulla has personified Indian women for more than two decades now from the elegant look of Lamhe and the underdone colors of Yuva, to the majestic appearance of Paro and the recent Jodha. The ingenious designer has eclipsed the jounres of dressing concept and has played a pivotal role in preparing the manuscript of Indian fashion history.

An expert in bridal trousseau Neeta Lulla has a whole bunch of Bollywood biggies in her kitty as her clientele. From Sridevi, Juhi Chawla, Tabu, Mahima Chowdhary to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. 

After designing for movies and the who’s who of the industry, the designer moved a step further and launched a flagship store in Mumbai. This two-storey showroom has two lines of collection, the bridal lounge (Neeta Lulla Couture) and the diffusion line (Neeta Lulla Nishq).• Started as an assistant to the former Indian leading fashion choreographer, Jeanne Naoroji, in the late    1980’s.

• She started off with her first venture in Bollywood with the film Tamasha.
• The glare of publicity that brought her instant stardom in the fashion world of Bollywood came with the Vmovie ‘Lamhe’ which also won her the National Award for costume designing in 1992
• Globally, Neeta Lulla has done a number of shows in U.S., Canada, Monte Carlo and Rome
• Salaam Bombay Award- winner of the best costume designer in 1996
• The IIFA Award for Taal- 2000
• Designed costumes for Gurinder Chadha-Paul Myeda’s ‘Mistress of Spices’.
• The President’s Award for Devdas- 2002
• Kingfisher Fashion Award for contribution to Fashion 2005
• The designer moved a step further and launched a flagship store in Mumbai

There are a lot of small and big things in life that keeps the designer constantly on a lookout for newer pastures. The very passion to do something new has always been Neeta’s inspiration. But her work and style has been specially mused by the Renaissance period. As a cultural movement, it encompassed a resurgence of everything with a certain character and texture to the time period. Her everyday outfit is nothing more comfortable than classic blue denim paired with a white shirt or a tee. Otherwise her work wear comprises of suits and skirts infused with power dressing. And yes (she carefully remarks) saris are the first choice when it comes to Indian outfit.

You can get Neeta at:
The Neeta Lulla Signature Store, 6 R.N.A, Santa Cruz (W), Mumbai
www.neetalulla.com

A walk Through 15 years of Kiran Uttam Ghosh

If you happen to be at Ogaan on the 12th of November, you are caught in the creative exuberant scrap book of a designer. Kiran Uttam Ghosh sketches her 15 years of design and fashion in treasure dungeons, linen panels hanging from the ceiling, boxes, her press releases over the years, her first piece of design and everything placed with a pinned up note attached to it. The entire journey is divided in steps, and the first desired eyesight you are welcomed in to her space. Here as you pass through lanes you can’t miss the collection of press releases that has been her communication vehicle through the years. In front of you also hangs a huge piece of fabric with boldly scribbled on it is a quote by Donna Karan.

As we move ahead you pick bangles for yourself and climb a flight of stairs there is a piece of cloth with a pinned up note that says, “This is where it all started, a piece from my first collection and I thought it was fabulous then.” Commenting on this Kiran says at that her flapper girl back then was a direct interpretation but gradually over the years with her understanding and experience she has become sexier and confident. Moving ahead the galleria you pass by garments with their price tags of 1994, interesting right. And then you arrive at the destination where get yourself clicked in the mask with the bangles, scarf and box bags. Through the  journey the placement of each step  is such that you keep moving up and down through different levels, so the curiosity is all the more enhanced.

Kiran Uttam Ghosh also showcased her spring summer 2010 collection, fondly called Flapper Girl goes to the Orient. Paul Poiret’s revolutionary ‘Garcon’ style is reinterpreted. Putting in elements of ‘Flapper’ glamour, along with a relaxed Orientalism that was characteristic of the period, the collection is a modern Indian derivation. Her trademark sensibility of nonchalant chic is maintained with fluid lines, seemingly careless layering and a strong hint of sexiness. The hip receives attention with subtle ballooning. Movement is key, with flaps, bias cuts, overlaps and concave hemlines in lightweight fabrics, contributing to create a sensual sway. Abstract foliage motifs and detailed textures add to the layered feel, but the overall effect remains light and ethereal.