The Surrealistic Designer

Chhaya Mehrotra

There is something very strikingly beautiful about Chhaya Mehrotra’s simplicity in designs. Modern silhouettes, subtle color palette and almost-bewildered cuts make her clothes perfect for Indian women. She shares a slice of her beautiful journey with The Lifestyle Potpourri…

How do you start your day?

The first thing I do is switch off the alarm and get that extra 15 minutes of sleep! After waking up, I glance through the newspaper with a morning cuppa of green tea and spend some time with the kids before we finish breakfast and pack for the day at factory. Breakfast is the time where, me and my husband plan out the entire day.

What shaped your outlook as a designer during your formative days?

My origins are rooted in Banaras and the variety of exposure I had across all platforms in the domestic textile industry right after NIFT molded my creative realm as a designer—from hand block printing to digital printing, hand embroidery to computerized embroidery, and designing for ethnic wedding wear to designing furnishing fabrics for Heimtextil, or high-end fashion fabrics for Texworld Paris; I knew my biggest strength lies in versatility. I take my education and experiences as the alphabet…what I write with it depends on my mood and requirement!

Chhaya Mehrotra

What inspires you to create newer designs?

Inspiration could be from almost anything. It could be a faint memory of childhood or a poem that I wrote. Sometimes it’s a place or a craft, and sometimes it could be a conversation with a kid or a friend. But inspiration isn’t enough to keep you going; it’s the instant mood lift you get when you see a sketch perfectly turned out into a garment—that excites me to create newer designs more than anything else.

Tell us an anecdote that has been consequential in your journey as a designer…

We had shifted to Noida from Banaras mainly because of family business. I just started with three tailors for my label and did exhibitions often; I was doing decent business. However, one day a long-lost family friend walks into our factory for some work and instead looks at my collection and threw a barrage of questions at me—“Why don’t you participate in fashion weeks?” and etc… On that guest’s insistence we applied and got the required membership; this was 2011. Looking at how our label is positioned now, you bet this anecdote was consequential!

Chhaya Mehrotra

Who is your favourite designer and why?

How can you pick one when it’s a sea of stunning work out there!
Amongst international designers I like Stella McCartney and Ted Baker’s creations—their sense of colour palette is very intense. Amongst Indian designers, A&T and Rajesh Pratap Singh are my favorites for their perfect approach to minimalism; Ritu Kumar inspires me for her timeless appeal to every piece of clothing; whereas Sabyasachi has touched my heart with the grandeur of detailing in his work; I also admire Rahul Mishra for the magic he created with wool, and Rajdeep Ranawat for the perfection he can bring to any cloth with a riot of colours. Lastly, I am very fond of Raw Mango and Anavila because their simple work can exude a whole lot of beauty!

Five must-haves in a woman’s wardrobe…

A handloom saree, crisp white shirt, pair of blue denims, nice perfume and an all-purpose shift dress

Blurring Fashion Borders

Meher and Riddhima

Meher and Riddhima, an evening-wear brand launched in 2002 caters to fashion that reflects delicately influenced rich heritage and tradition of a region. They produce gorgeous evening gowns, cocktail dresses, formal jumpsuits, accessories and children’s wear. Based out of Dubai, the label also has offices in New York and India. This venture is a creative alliance between Meher Mirchandani and Riddhima Whabi.

Meher and Riddhima

The designer duo’s design philosophy revolves around combining contemporary shapes with traditional influences. It is an evening wear brand with couture attention to detail. The brand has a balance of western sensibilities with eastern influences in the design. The inspiration for the collections is derived from art, architecture, music, travel, interiors and prominent women in history.

Meher and Riddhima

Define your label and forecast some upcoming trends…

Our label is made to make the wearer feel special, happy and beautiful. For the upcoming season, we would recommend fashionistas to look out for bright floral prints, crop tops, flowy skirts and pop-colored dresses.

Meher and Riddhima

Who has been your role model during your formative years and why?

I would say my mother as she is perfect in everything she does; she is a successful entrepreneur, loving mom and dedicated wife and great human being. She inspired me to express my fashion sensibilities through my designs and reach out to many…

Meher and Riddhima

How different is Indian fashion industry in comparison to its western counterparts?

Indian fashion industry focuses more on ethnic Indian wear, which again reflects a lot of Indian influences on fabrics, colors and embellishments; whereas, the western industry is all about minimalistic styling and contemporary, luxe fabrics.

Regal Watches for Brides-to-be

Titan Raga

This wedding season gift yourself a stunning watch from Titan Raga. It will be the most outstanding bridal ensemble. Designed for the woman who embodies her bridal role with poise and élan, each timepiece crafted by Raga portrays perfect balance of sensuality and elegance.

Titan Raga

The selection of timepieces by Titan Raga is exquisitely designed, drawing inspiration from pearls of the ocean, incredible cities, flora and fauna. Studded with Swarovski crystals and pearls, the watches are enhanced with intricate enamel work. The timepieces are an ode to the graceful, confident and sensuous Raga woman.

Titan Raga

There is an elegantly designed timepiece for every bride-to-be by Titan Raga, making the bridal attire flawless for each wedding ritual. The watches are priced between Rs. 5495 to Rs. 15995. These watches are available at World of Titan and Helios stores as well as leading multi-brand outlets like Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, and other authorized dealer stores.

Royal & rooted – by Aditi Maheshwari

Rohit Bal

Rohit Bal, one of the most sought after fashion designers, popularly known as the ‘master of fabric and fantasy’, gets candid and talks about the current fashion industry and his journey as a designer

What is your design philosophy?

For me, the most important word is elegance. I also give importance to certain styles that are understated, craft based and extremely Indian. Nothing that I do has any western influences. Everything I do has a very strong soul of India; so my design philosophy says that I am an Indian and I like making Indian designs; also, all my designs are hand crafted and at the end of the day, the soul of India should be represented in my collections.

What new techniques and materials are you using?

We are using the opposite of new techniques. We are focusing on age old techniques—those that are long forgotten. We are reviving techniques that used to be an important part of Indian subcontinent. So instead of doing something new, I am using techniques that were used many hundreds of years ago. I am trying to bring back what is lost to India.

Rohit Bal’s bridal collection for Wills India Fashion Week SS’15

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion for me is a very integral part of lifestyle. Fashion doesn’t mean wearing fancy clothes. It’s about the way you live, your lifestyle, your home, the food you eat, the car you drive, the life you lead; it’s really about your entire life. Fashion is in fact, a necessary evil.

During your formative years, who has been your muse?

When I started out as a fashion designer, I was influenced greatly by a very dear friend, Rohit Khosla. He was my inspiration and my muse.

Most fashion designers are now diversifying into other areas besides fashion. What’s your take on this and how important is it to diversify for creative expression as well as to scale up the business?

I might have been amongst the first ones to have done that. The reason why you do this is because you want your creativity to be experimented and expressed in other mediums rather than what you normally do with fashion. A creative person absolutely must do as many creative things as possible; whether it is designing homes, cars, product designs, etc. A designer should give his creativity another platform. It is a natural progression and extremely important.

Rohit Bal’s bridal collection for Wills India Fashion Week SS’15

What is the future of couture in India?

I think the future of fashion in India is couture and nothing else. In India there are enough international brands. But what we designers do is very up market and occasion wear; whether it is weddings or parties. So, I think couture has a great potential in India.

What was your first design? Do you have any interesting anecdotes in the making of your first piece?

The first design I ever did was for men. The first person who wore those was my friend, Rohit Khosla. The first thing I ever made was a gold tissue bandhgala for men. At that time, such designs were very contemporary and avant-garde.

Way back when you were a student, what inspired you? How did you decide upon this career?

Some very fashionable people used to come visit my college when I was a student. I used to observe some amazing style icons, see their beautiful clothes and get inspired by the likes of them.

Rohit Bal at the grand finale show for Wills India Fashion Week SS’15

How does the business of fashion look like today?

Encouraging. The industry is also getting a little more organised. Earlier this entire industry was very haphazard and not very focused. But now, fashion has become a very important industry.

P.S- Aditi Maheshwari, the author of this story is an avid lifestyle writer who runs a popular decor blog www.pobox9.in

The Magic of Shibori

109°F Fusion Beats- Shibori Collection

With temperature soaring high, a simple yet classy outfit that keeps the heat at bay, is something that we are always on a hunt for! 109°F, the women retail apparel brand’s Shibori Collection from their Spring/Summer’15 line, is a perfect pick for this season.

109°F Fusion Beats- Shibori Collection

Fusion Beats’, Shibori Collection from their SS’15 line celebrates free spirited, bohemian women of today. It is not just fashion, but an expression of who you are. The collection also takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese Shibori blended with rhythmical baroque that presents a fresh take on this SS’15 Line. Rather than treating the fabric as a two-dimensional surface, it is given a three-dimensional form by folding, crumpling, stitching, plaiting, or plucking and twisting. The collection includes flowing sleeveless dresses with abstract prints, fun jumpsuits and kitsch tops. Bright indigos highlighted with hints of yellow form the colour palette which is perfect to bask on sunny beaches.

109°F Fusion Beats- Shibori Collection

A 109° F woman has multiple facets; she is sharp yet carefree, powerful yet fun and likes to experiment with the exquisite and special characteristic of soft or blurry-edged pattern imprinted in the Shibori Collection. The effect is quite different from the sharp-edged resist obtained with stencil, paste, and wax. With Shibori, the dye works in concert with the materials, not in an effort to overcome their limitations but to allow them to attain full expression; and an element of the unexpected is always present. The rich sensuous colours of blue and white and the pliability of the material respond well to the movement and flow of the body. Keeping in mind funky, ferocious and cosmopolitan women of today, this brand has adapted the Shibori technique in crisp shorts, casual pants and free-flowing tops. The collection is priced between INR 1200-1800 and is available across 109°F outlets and online shopping partners.

The Inner Shift by Amy Billimoria

Amy Billimoria

A contemporary line of Spring Summer 2015, this collection draws inspiration from the evolution of higher levels of consciousness and is a strong portrayal of the self within.

Amy Billimoria

An eclectic array of exaggerated shoulder details, draped rose textures on linen palazzos and intricate texture details on sheer shirts, this line by fashion designer, Amy Billimoria portrays strong clean cuts, emphasizing the various moods of the contemporary woman of today.

Amy Billimoria

Cool fabrics in linen and viscose blends are used for various styles in palazzos, jumpsuits, knee-length dresses in a subtle colour palette of whites, pale blues, peaches and mints. Princess prints and floral depictions in textures and prints are predominant.

Dorothy Perkins presents Spring/Summer 2015

Dorothy Perkins

UK’s most famous high street brand Dorothy Perkins announces the launch of its Spring/Summer 2015 collection, available exclusively on India’s leading fashion destination, Jabong.com. The spring summer collection of Dorothy Perkins embraces the key trends for the coming season with a return to the seventies and Sports Luxe.

Dorothy Perkins

The collection will be available on Jabong.com for its discerning customers from March. Jabong.com believes in bringing the latest and best trends forward for the customers. The latest summer collection from Dorothy Perkins is inspired by the 1970’s.

Dorothy Perkins

The dresses are longer, the skirts are A-lined and the trousers are cropped. Materials are a mixture of textures with knits and crochet, leather and suede – the chocolate brown suede shorts and jacket are key drifts. These rich textures are combined with denim – one of the star fabrics for spring summer.

Dorothy Perkins

Colours are a combination of muted pastel shades with pops of coral and indigo. Soft ruffle detailing and feminine prints, which take inspiration from the orient, create a seventies romantic bohemian look. Oversized peasant blouses are teamed with button front denim skirts and bell bottom jeans, matched with high platforms and felt hats creating a classic seventies silhouette.

Dorothy Perkins

For SS15 culottes are in pink leather and trousers are loose and wide – creating a new elegant shape. A fresh and modern feel updates this season’s Sports Luxe trend. Clean, simple lines create the look for the utility nineties inspired collection. Minimal boxy, cropped jackets in a variety of fabrics and textures – from neoprene to sheer and mesh – mixed with the cigarette trouser creates a sleek look.

Dorothy Perkins

Asymmetric tops and tunics add to the new season silhouette. Colour for this collection is exciting with poster paint shades of blue and green. Colour blocking leads the way – whilst the all-over whites we’ve seen in past seasons have returned. Florals are big and bold and are on full looks – on dresses and across short suits.

CaratLane.com reveals Fleur collection

Fleur Collection by CaratLane.com

Floral Designs have always been in fashion for their timeless appeal and their alluring designs have often captivated hearts of women. Discovering the epitome of enchantment, CaratLane.com has revealed its luxurious assortment of floral jewellery this season.

Fleur Collection by CaratLane.com

Known as Fleur, the collection draws inspiration from a variety of buds. Through this collection, CaratLane.com offers its customers the most enchanting pieces of floral jewellery. The collection has been crafted to blend contemporary styles and modern designs to create magnificent pieces that will make you look like a true fashionista. The bold and chic patterns come in variety of shapes and sizes, from simple floral to elaborate array of pendants, earrings, rings and hand harness.

Fleur Collection by CaratLane.com

Each piece of the Fleur collection induces a treasure of ornamental image where inspirations are drawn from various flowers like Orchids, Plumeria, Pansy, Gerbera, Roses, Daffodils, Marigold and Tulips. The collection is a combination of all three gold where various colors of flowers are brought out through the yellow, white and rose gold giving them a dull finish to make them look subtle pieces of art. The collection is also studded with diamonds to give it an extremely classy look.

Velvetcase Unveils Payal Pratap’s Collection Inspired by Japanese Aesthetics

Layered Japanese diamond pendant by Payal Pratap at Velvetcase.com

Velvetcase.com, a marketplace for global jewellery designers offering consumers a platform to discover and buy fine jewellery is proud to launch their new assemblage with the charismatic designer Payal Pratap.

Dainty Floral Motif Ear Cuffs by Payal Pratap at Velvetcase.com

The renowned fashion designer takes her designing abilities to a whole new level by creating and showcasing jewellery designs inspired by Japanese aesthetics for the first time ever on Velvetcase.com.

Japanese Fan-Style Diamond Ring by Payal Pratap at Velvetcase.com

The collection is a jugglery of colours, patterns and styles derived from elements of Japanese culture.

Japanese Floral Motif Diamond Chand Balis by Payal Pratap at Velvetcase.com

Her collection showcases an interesting combination of contemporary Ear cuffs, Rings, Earrings and Pendants. Each piece in the collection is crafted to perfection and is meant for modern women who are willing to experiment and have a bold and confident look.

Hidesign presents the Icon Exhibition

A rebel is born – Hidesign

Hidesign, India’s leading luxury leather brand celebrates 35 years of heritage and craftsmanship. To commemorate this occasion, Hidesign launches the ‘Icon Exhibition’ in partnership with Select City Walk in Delhi.

Beauty is natural – Hidesign

Hidesign attempts to create a window to the brand’s formative years through the ‘Icon Exhibition’ showcasing images of the company’s journey so far and key styles from its archives. With some of the best fashion and luxury brands being housed at Select City Walk, the exhibition will cater to its niche audience in the region. It is first of a kind exhibition in any mall.

Hidesign

Hidesign which was started as a two-man workshop in 1978 has turned into a company of 3000 spread all over the world today. The history of Hidesign has been defined by the rebellion against uniformity and synthetic flatness of the mass market. Hidesign has always stood out for the sensuous naturalness of its high quality leather and the smooth soft glow of its solid brass fitting in the leather good.

Sasha original 1983 – Hidesign

As a part of the celebrations, Hidesign launches its Icon Collection, which showcases some of the earliest bags. Dilip Kapur, President, Hidesign while talking about the bags says, “Hidesign’s earliest bags were a small range of our innovative bags that were a pure expression of our values and what we loved best- adventure, travel, clean design, wonderful materials that felt good, and a non-conformity that was stamped throughout the collection. As we have grown, with large collections and teams of marketing and design professionals, we still look back at our icon bags with great love as being the purest Hidesign bags. The Icon Collection re-launches the earliest bags, maintaining the same purity reflected in the original bags: vegetable-tanned leathers, solid brass, cotton and leather lining and designs that have stood the test of time for the last 35 years.”

The Boxy Big and Small – Hidesign

The collection boasts of eleven classic bags such as doctor bags, briefcases, satchels and duffel. The adventure and romance of travel is a great inspiration for Hidesign, and the same spirit is captured in the icon bags. The Hidesign lifestyle is full of travel, both for business and leisure. The passion for travel is still visible in the rugged leathers and solid brass buckles with which the brand originally started.