Shivan and Narresh, a Delhi-based designer duo famed for their creative resort wear will showcase their latest collection titled ‘Patu Series’ at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019.
A fusion of Indian art and modern silhouettes, the collection captures the sublime elements of Bengal’s Pattachitra art and juxtaposes it with the intrinsic Tholu Bommalata leather puppetry of Andhra Pradesh. The Patu Series, is a melange of the two tribal art forms, reveals Shivan Bhatiya, head designer at Shivan and Narresh.
“Pattachitra depicts the tribal art of Bengal and the Tholu Bommalata art renders shadow puppetry on leather, which is the foundation for the series. The key highlights of this fashion line are six new prints — Panthera, Sunderbans, Iconorosh, Fagun, Urvi, and Deccan - rendered on this season’s swim, resort and celebration silhouettes,” he elaborates. He adds, “Tholu Bommalata consorts from local ballads and Hindu folklore and are vibrantly showcased through shadow puppetry rendered on leather silhouettes. Taking inspiration from the same, Iconorosh, one of our key prints, has been conceptualised to illustrate fantastical animals and mythical beings while stringing a story of good over evil.”
Speaking about the extensive research and execution behind this collection, Narresh Kukreja, creative director of the brand says it took almost three months for the design team to create this line. “Given the primary inspiration for the collection, we looked into works of local artists to get a better understanding of the art. To do justice to the essence of the craft we travelled to Bengal and met with local artists. We engaged with one artist in our design studio and developed the print elements and characters with his assistance. These characters were then given our colours and details and patterned into our signature prints for the season, and then to pieces of attire for Patu Series within three months. The Patu Series presents signature prints of the season illustrated effectively on the key ensembles against a colour palette of Rosh (Deep Vermilion), Indigo, Slate (Black), Pepe (Peach), Som (Amber) and Wheat (Flesh),” Narresh explains.
With regard to the target audience, Narresh says, “As designers, we always look forward to an innovative design table that challenges us.
Adding on the complexity of the art forms he says, “Both of these homegrown art forms are extremely technique driven that are mastered by local artists practising the craft for over a decade.”
