Designs on you

Contemporary, chic and young is the new mantra for dressing. A recent report suggested that celeb designers are falling in popularity, while young creative individuals are selling their stuff better. A look at the fashion weeks is proof enough that a young Nimirta Lalwani can be as admired as, say a Shobhaa De who has started designing sarees, or a Tarun Tahiliani, who’s counted among India’s top designers.
So while a Miley Cyrus or Victoria Beckham may have a few takers for their lines, the same may not hold for such designers in India.
Actress Ramya says her favourite is Gauri Nainika. “But in Bengaluru it is Deepika Govind and Ramesh Dembla.” But for celeb designers she prefers known names. “It depends on how big they are and how good their work is,” she says. Actress Sanjjana also concurs with her when she says it depends on how good the collection is. “Quality is very important for me. And so is the price. Just because you are a celebrity, you can’t charge the earth and expect us to pay. You never see people splurging in this city just because it is a celebrity line. It has to be well balanced.”
Atsu Sekhose, billed as the most promising young designer in India already counts among his clients the crème de la crème of the city. “I feel young designers have fresh ideas. The celebrity designers of course have their clientele. But it’s good that people are ready to experiment. There is a market for younger designers because people want something new all the time. Celebrities, and socialites are promoting young designers and that’s a good thing.”
“Shoppers in Bengaluru are more discerning now,” opines socialite Dia Bhandary about the trend towards young designers.
As Atsu puts it, “The acceptance for my clothes is growing.”
Does this spell the end of celebrity culture? It may be closer than you think.