At the on-going India Fashion Week, one can spot the trendiest designers and fashion followers from across the nation. However, amidst this ‘ultra-chic’ crowd it is easy to spot a frail figure dressed in loose cotton dhoti-pants and kurta paired with a modest jacket. Meet designer Anand Kabra, who is in Delhi all the way from Hyderabad to participate in this fashion fete.
The maverick designer has already won rave reviews for his collection ‘Becoming Kami’. The designer, who is known for his handloom work and usage of traditional crafts like Kalamkari and Pochampally, abstained from his signature style this time and experimented with digital prints.
Speaking about his collection, he says, “The central theme is based on spiritual cleansing. I was reading about it and I was intrigued by the idea of ‘Kami’ so I developed it further into my Autumn-Winter line. I used water-based digital prints of lotus leaves and also experimented with a new technique in bead work. I accentuated the ensembles with an intricate and complex bead work along with burnt zari embroidery. There is also velvet detailing in the outfits to give them a rich look.”
Anand, who is fond of using colours in his creations, used bright aqua shades of aqua blues, moss and leaf greens, orange, and khaki, black andpristine whites in this collection. Speaking about the response to his collection, Anand says, “The response has been quite good. The embroidery and zardosi work are what people associate me with, it’s part of my DNA now.” Anand adds that the city continues to inspire him as a “melting point of the Nizami and South Indian cultures.”
We ask the designer if Indian cuts and designs are gaining popularity back home as the west is showing interest too. “Since it’s the India Fashion Week, it’s only logical to cater to Indian clients,” says Anand, admitting that international acceptance does make a difference. Talking about his personal style statement, he says, “They say in fashion less is always more, and it’s challenging to be simple and stylish at the same time. Personally, I like to keep things simple and that’s the thumb rule I like to follow.”
We ask Anand who his favourite celebs are, as his designs are quite popular in B-town among the likes of Kiran Rao and Jacqueline Fernandes. He replies, “Celebrities are never the focus of my label, although I am always happy to dress them up. I like my designs and clothes to be highlighted. Deepika Padukone carries my designs well without looking too over-the-top Bollywood type.”
