Monthly Archives: November 2009

Varun Sardana

For 26-year-old Varun Sardana, the desire to become a fashion designer came from watching his grandmother and mother stitch clothes. A Delhiite, Varun comes from a simple family (his mother taught stitching and his father ran a grocery store). A designer by profession, Varun Sardana has not limited his creative skills to just designing clothes. He also anchors programs pertaining to the fashion industry.

He is one of the versatile persons in the fashion industry, who uses his creativity to maximum extent. His technique of blending conventional classic in contemporary chic style is adored by everyone. An additional blessing of creativity from heaven, Varun designs clothes which are simple and class. His designs are such that they can be worn by people at large. A long list of clientele is a proof to this.

He has been designing for the past five years with a presence in over 20 stores internationally and has garnered rave reviews from press and critics. Varun thinks of fashion as a language that gives one the opportunity to be different:

  • Varun Sardana, the recipient of the "Bijenkorf Fashion Design Award 2004" held in Amsterdam,

  • His debut collection at the WLIFW Spring/Summer ’08 was adjudged as “The Best Debut Collection” by the FDCI

  • Hindustan Times dubbed him the “Best New Designer” of 2007-08.

  • In March 2008, Varun became the youngest designer to be signed up by French agents MC2, who represent such reputed labels like Manish Arora, Hussien Chalayan and Undercover.

  • He’s now a regular at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week.

  • He has also hosted two fashion-related shows – "Makeover" and "Style Guru" for two seasons on NDTV India and NDTV Good Times.

Since last season, Varun has been showing his collections through the MC2 Diffusion Showroom in Paris during Paris Fashion Week. Having a penchant to look for ideas among the boring and the mundane, he always picks up elements from everyday things and gives a new definition to them. He feels his clothes should have a character that is inherent and not defined by either local aesthetic or global trends. He proudly declares that his creations are for confident men and women who love to be the way they are and who don’t seek to be clouded by external validation.

You can get Varun at:

info@varunsardana.com

Website: www.varunsardana.com

varunsardana.blogspot.com

Reynu Taandon

The label ‘Mynah by Reynu Taandon’ is all about dazzling arrays of fashion apparel for just about every woman – the daring, the dynamic, the dignified, the discerning, and yes…the downright difficult !!! Her colour palette touches the depth of color garnet between modernity & tradition in continuous interplay of subdued but ornate thread embroidery and extravagant style. The hallmark of her every design is elaborate draping and exquisite construction. Expertise, clarity and creativity, humility arising from quiet confidence has earned her both respect and clientele of celebrities like Burmans, Gujrals, Nizams and Begums of Hyderabad. Having whirled into the fashion scene around a decade ago, her collection is presented in luxurious fabrics, vibrant colours and meticulous craftsmanship against the backdrop of the regal game.

She always strives to pack new things as she has even tried launching the sarees in a very contemporary role- patchwork sarees teamed with European stylized check blouses cum boleros. Her collection captures the oddities and unconventional eccentricities of the Indian women.

Her profoundly sophisticated collection is pointedly aggressive and alluring without exception. By using effervescent and embellishments, Taandon always infuses life to each ensemble she creates. Her label ‘Mynah’ has recently completed a decade of churning out masterpieces.

Her styles and look is relaxed, casual, simplified and trendy, for women who can carry themselves with calm composed elegant demeanor. Copper metal work on dresses is something quite innovative which her label ‘Mynah’ has already experimented with. The zest to outdo her past collections always adds to the dramatic flair to her creations.

She currently retails from Atmosphere (Paris), Pure (London), Anthropology (USA), and boutiques of Spain, France, Lebanon, Morocco, Dubai, and many fashion houses in Europe.

Nida Mahmood

Nida Mahmood, a graduate from NIFT, pronounces a rebellion against all things that is mundane, repetitive, and predictable outrageously stirring out a style sense that unifies disharmonious elements together. She hates to take the trodden path and paves the new way with an artistic twist. Nida is notorious for executing the famous sari over denim designs which revolutionized the complete outlook of the Indian saree all over the world. Her label epitomizes her design philosophy ‘art translated’ in more ways than one, which is also a vivid reflection of her personality as she shifts her role between designer, painter, writer and artist. 

 

Nida has recently completed her project with Hollywood director Tanuj Chopra on his latest film Pia, where she has designed the garments for the lead role. Sharing her experience with Tanuj she says, “The film deals with a futuristic world so the garments convey an image of the future but it is on an entirely new dimension other than the regular future costumes and my work here deals with a lot of surface texture that is my forte”. Her Bollywood extravaganza with garments is also due very soon. Apart from her design interventions, she writes as regular columnist with financial chronicle every Wednesday and has also been writing a regular column with HT City on fashion, art, designs, product designs and everything that muses and amuses her.

  • Launched her label at the Lakme Gen Next designer in 2006.
  • Established the New India Bioscope in 2009, which is a design conglomerate to revive the artist of Bollywood hand painted posters
  • One of her paintings on street art this year has been selected for Hussain by 94 – a book of paintings where each designer has gifted a painting for the cause. 
Her New India Bioscope is a label that runs parallel with Nida Mahmood and is an initiative to revive the jobs of Bollywood poster painters thrown away by the sway of digital prints. Nida hunted them out in dingy lanes of the capital and teamed up with them for her upcoming poster collection. These artists had lost their job about 15 – 16 years ago and she is trying to bring that art back. The flamboyant and dramatic imagery of hand-painted Bollywood posters and hoardings has been captured in a kitschy manner. Having 5 poster artists on board, her present collection for WIFW autumn winter 09/10 held the essence of these artists by her designs on bags, garments and even furniture. Her motivation for this venture was revealed by the fact that she always liked to work on street elements and on Indian things which came to her naturally.

 

Nida with an ever optimistic allure to everything that surrounds her says, “We as an industry in fashion are very young but with right focus and true hard work of the revolutionary young designers, we are bound to make an international fashion mark.”

 

You can get Nida Mahmood at:

 

 

Nalandda Bhandari

Sometimes life comes a full circle and you find yourself returning to your first love. Something similar happened with Nalandda Bhandari. After getting her degree in Psychology, Bhandari started working in the hospitality industry. But soon she found herself longing for her childhood passion. 

With a passion for designing and having being exposed to fashion trends ever since childhood, Nalandda Bhandari started out with her label ‘NASHA by Nalandda Bhandari’ more than four years ago. In this short span, she has carved a niche of her own and established her brand as one which caters to a woman who is sexy, sensuous and unapologetic. Her garments speak feminine and uber chic. Strong silhouettes, a twist on international trends and clothes with a personality of their own are the forte of a Nalandda Bhandari creation. The emphasis in her garments is often on quality, cut and finish and they speak luxury and grace. 

Bhandari began retailing under the in-house brand of Ensemble (Mumbai) and soon her creations were being sold at premier high-end boutiques all over India. Her ensembles can be spotted at Zoya, Amara, Ensemble, Newbury and Fifi etc. Recently, she has started supplying to some international outlets in Spain, Hong Kong, Greece, Kuwait and South Africa too. 

Today, she works from a fully functional workshop in Mumbai where she supervises the works of many craftsmen. Her designs are often spotted on the crème de la crème of the society. Avanti Birla, Gauri Khan, Maheep Kapoor, Malaika Arora Khan are a few names which feature in the clientele list of the suave designer. 
 

Hemant Nandita

Coming from the small town, designer duo, Hemant & Nandita, with a truckload of talent and an equal amount of chutzpah, started their charismatic journey at NIFT, pursuing the graduation in fashion designing. Hemant worked with fashion designer Aparna Jagdhari Wangdi while Nandita assisted Malini Ramani to later launch their progressive label, “Hemant & Nandita”.

The seven years of experience of high craftsmanship and exquisite designs came to limelight when the duo debuted its Spring Summer 2009 collection at WIFW. Since then there is no looking back. 

Quirky, individualistic to the extreme and stylishly witty their clothes are for people who refuse to take themselves seriously. Their label is for a woman who celebrates life in all its glory. Hemant & Nandita also have a strong connection with organizations like PETA and PFA and always try to focus their collections on the animals. Their Autumn Winter 2010 & 11 collection saw a strong protest for using animal skin for clothes but  had full support from animal activist Mrs Maneka Gandhi.

An epitome of indo-western style, they beautifully manifest the richness and opulence of Indian tradition balanced with contemporary styles. They have a strong following in Bollywood either with the likes of Minishaa Lamba, Genelia D’souza, Ameesha Patel, Raveena Tandon, Giselle, Raima Sen, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonia Jehan, Mini Mathur ,Mandira Bedi, Parizaad Kolah and many more wearing their designs at the glittering events.

The duo sells from a couple of the best multi-designer outlets in the country and has also made its presence in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Cannes, Dubai, Greece, Hong Kong,  Jakarta, Kuwait, Lebanon, New York, Panama, Paris, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia.

You can get Hemant & Nandita at:
http://www.hemantandnandita.com/
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Amit GT

He is one of the very few designers that believe fashion blurs the boundaries between dreams and reality.Amit GT started his brand with humble beginnings and has risen exponentially in five years, from his very first show in 2005 in Singapore. 

Amit’s designs are unpretentious yet elegant and decadent. His elfish like silhouettes replete with fluid drapery, scrunching and pleating techniques, innovative couture textures evoke surreal imagery. His designs have eclectic use of materials and mood, soft and hard, fluid and structured, matte and glass, vivid and dark, demure and aggressive. Still in his cacophony of different elements, he manages to put them all together effortlessly in harmony as a collection.  

He has won many laurels and accolades for his exquisite evening wear gowns and cocktail dresses. In a brief span he has shown his collections in Paris, Milan, New Delhi, Singapore and Dubai.

The eminent designer has woven many dreams for women who believe in the power of transformation through clothes. Amit GT has dressed a bevy of Bollywood stars and celebrities. Today his line is available in luxury boutiques in Europe, Middle East and Far East.

 
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WGSN

Yet another instance of bringing you an insight of the Fashion world as Asha Kumari catches Julie Harris, Managing director, Asia Pacific, WGSN and Anjelio Teo, Head of Content, Asia Pacific, WGSN, exclusively for Fashionfad.in.

The story begins with the squeaking stilettos of Julie as she gathers remarkable attention during her presentation at the WIFW SS’10. Julie can be easily mistaken to be a fashion icon herself coming from the clan that is the foresight of fashion. And Anjelio based in Hong Kong, oversees an expert team and a network of freelancers across the Asia Pacific region. Anjelio in her account of India therapy writes for WGSN, “A cacophonous mix of colour and sound, all so foreign, jarring and beautiful at the same time. There are sights here you’ll never see elsewhere and sounds and smells that will linger on in your memory for years after. India seeps into your skin.”  Now let’s get the experts talking-

What are the various parameters that influence the fashion forecast of any season?
Fashion is influenced by nearly everything and anything under the sun. Beginning from the climatic conditions it digs out references from culture, music, politics, economy and all the little ingredients that are making a difference or have the potential to do so. Trends from the street scrutinized under the eyes of the experts, great things in design (furniture, space, lamps etc. utility driven or luxury driven), design innovations and of course art, it is the luxury answering commercial. Each day we analyse events around the world to create a strong understanding of consumer behavior, and an inspirational well informed future.

We work 18 months in advance of the season to develop the forecast. Each forecast is followed on the catwalks of Milan to the streets of Tokyo. Confirmation is taken at every stage and necessary amendments taken care of and conclusions drawn.

Brief about your client base
WGSN is the global trend analysis resource for all design related industries. We provide creative intelligence across 60 countries to over 35,000 users from designers to fashion brands, retailers and manufacturers. Among our international associates are Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Zara, Walmart, Nike and Adidas to name a few. In India we have been forecasting for companies like Shoppers Stop, Madura, Raymond, Titan and Numero Uno.

What according to you is “the fashion capital”?
Fashion capitals have been shifting their base since its origin. Like in the 60’s London ruled the world of fashion before Paris established itself as the undisputed monarch in 80’s and 90s.

Why don’t we see a drastic change in Fashion?
Because fashion is not revolutionary it is evolutionary. When you see someone dressed up differently people start talking about it and the acceptance is not that easy. Fashion works on a trickle-down theory or a trickle-up theory. In the former case style icons and trend setters introduce a new fashion statement and from there it flows down to the people who are constantly refurbished in vogue and very gradually the trend transcends to masses. The trickle-up theory supports a street trend which picks up very fast and soon shows up in vogue among the top niche of fashion. And as fashion always follows a cycle it takes its due course. For example this season the colour beige is in vogue. In this age of globalisation of trends beige is easier on the eye and you just have to find the exact shade of beige to match the skin type of every region.

How do you perceive the Indian fashion market?
Fashion in India has the local ethnic flavor with contemporary finishing which has a great market internationally. India brings to the global forum something that it has not seen before. Indian designers have an individualistic appeal with their excellent use of colours. We also find that there is awareness about the eco friendly clothing and human rights issues in India. Thus there is a strong need for the designers here to launch themselves globally. One of the buyers said that a lot of International designers have started looking the same however Indian designers have still retained their distinct sensibility. This is the first time that we are at WIFW, though we have been at the LFW as well. But we did not see the contemporization strongly enough at Lakme as is visible here. The WIFW is more organised it is easy for the buyers as they are getting appointments with the designers easily and the designers are competent enough for the business. Buyers are buying more than they intended to. I would like to add that the soul purpose of both the fashion weeks in India is to promote the Indian fashion industry. So they should not have two faces for the international market. There should be one single united face of Indian fashion.

How would WGSN help the Indian designers?
This is the first time we are trying to reach out to designers in India. Our services our quite expensive for individual designers to purchase, so we with Sunil Sethi, President, Fashion Design Council of India are working out a feasible module to provide designers under the umbrella of FDCI a subsidized fees. We are still working out the finer details but at present the proposition is such that we would stipulate the FDCI an annual license for five users at 15,000 pounds (approx)

YIN YANG

As a harsh winter gives in to a pleasant spring and summer, it is time for gratitude. It is time to pay homage to the mysterious forces of nature that defines our state of being. It is time to celebrate the highs and the lows, it is time to put existential angst behind us and look forward to a smiling hope ahead.

A time to celebrate the yin and the yang.

As luxury plays hide-n-seek with austerity in the months to come, our minds, emotions, spirits are forced to intermingle. Suddenly it seems our collective mind is opening up to new ideas and possibilities. Our creativity is generating new ways to conserve and share. Our hearts are opening up to people in a new way, feeling our interdependence. Our spirits are expanding, we see ourselves changing in quite positive ways. The Yang is creating yin!

Our Spring Summer Collection celebrates the Yin-Yang force of inevitability. A stark black and white collection of bikinis, cover-ups, sundresses, is an emphatic reiteration of the impending positives of life. From darkness and hopelessness emerges brightness and hope. Yin Yang is balanced in a dynamic equilibrium, says Anshita Asnani.