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Q&A Wednesday With Kallol Datta

Picking up where we left off with our Q&A series, here’s a quick tête-à-tête with the designer Kallol Datta…

1. As a designer, what inspires you? Have a muse?

As a person, I gravitate towards concepts of putrefaction, transmigration etc, and to the works of artists who’ve dealt with the aforementioned topics. When in design mode, it remains the same. The thought of having a muse throws me off for a loop. I cannot imagine creating garments based on the visual imagery of just one(type) woman.

2. What is the core aesthetic that you aim for in your clothes?

Bling- free, Bling – less, Bling to death and the likes. Shiny objects distract me. Though details in garments are important, for me the shape and form of the piece hold more importance.

3. With multiple fashion weeks springing up in almost every major city, how effective are they?

It’s weird right? Almost like having a Mardi gras at every nook and corner. However India keeps stressing way too much on the word ‘week’. I’ve conditioned myself; substituting ‘week’ for ‘extravaganza and jazz’, because in India that’s what it is at the end of the day.

4. How has the high-end luxury brand influx in India changed the local fashion scene?

Well, for starters, people have started denying the fact that they’ve picked up their Gucci from Mumbai. But seriously, other than the fact of having my garment appear in a magazine on a model wearing a Patrick Cox shoe and the point that is Chanel and not ‘Channel’ anymore, it’s all the same.

5. How do you feel about more and more celebrities choosing to wear International labels at various award functions and other public events? As a designer do you feel our homespun designers aren’t getting their due?

Ask me something on meta-physics and I am sure, I’ll fare better. I stay far away from celebrities and their lives. Their sartorial choice in clothing however, brings out the ‘Kathy Griffin’ in me.

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6. How important is it for a designer to have his/her creations seen on a celebrity versus conventional advertising mediums?

By celebrity, let’s assume we mean people from the Indian film industry. Designers catering to that particular market segment will prolly benefit from actors and the likes wearing their clothes. As for my case, forget the clothes, let’s get people to pronounce ‘Kallol’ the way my mum intended it to be.

7. Five essentials that should take us through the seasons this year?

Well groomed selves (even if one tends to appear otherwise), brill innerwear, a beginner’s sense of humour, lady luck and a glass of vino.

8. How would you describe your own sense of style?

Magpie; random, borrowed, stolen. Roomy, all enveloping and the likes.

9. Thoughts on mainstream actresses replacing models on all major (fashion) magazine covers?

I know!!! How dare they!! but I cry myself to bed every night hoping that it’s only because female actors make better marketing sense and that’s it…

10. And finally…

a. One word that describes you?

daydreamerchainsmoker

b. A trend you wish would go away?

Besides the obsessive usage of the word ‘trend’? ummm bodycon and bling…lets make it two trends that could go away.

c. A trend you can’t get enough of?

Plagiarism

d. Shoes or bags?

Both

e. If you weren’t a designer, you would be?

Just your friendly neighbourhood chav, on government support with the fanciest council apartment. I cannot fathom doing anything else other than designing at the moment.

f. One thing Kallol Datta cannot live without?

Having something constructive to do…

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Kallol Datta, Fall 2009

Photo Credit: Viral Bhayani

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Wearing Her Own

We loved this dress on Deepika. And now that we see the print in its ‘top’ version, we like that too! ;) (For some reason it doesn’t seem to photograph too well but looks far, far better in person!)

How do you like this print better, on a dress or a top?

For more pictures from the store launch, go here!

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Left: Deepika Padukone For Ranna Gill, Fall 09
Right: Ranna Gill At Jimmy Choo Store Launch

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Q&A Wednesday With Prashant Verma

Here’s a quick Q&A with designer Prashant Verma…

1. As a designer, what inspires you? Have a muse?

Ambition. Courage. Power. I like things hard and strong. No, I don’t have a muse.

2. We’ve seen you experiment with and use a lot of digital prints in your collections, is that something we can look forward to in your next collection as well??

I’ve been experimenting. I’ve been jumping around quite a bit in the last four seasons. Over the last few years I have expressed my story through a few key techniques – the prints, the structuring, the references to human ambition – although these are things that have been associated with my work, I’d like to stress on the fact that they are only mediums and tools- they may or may not change – it really depends on where I go artistically. Every collection takes a lot of work but once the show is over, you only have the choice of looking ahead. I tend to work only for the process. The journey is more important. So once its over, I don’t really care much for it. As long as I learn what I was meant to learn from that exercise and move forward. I know it’s a body of work, but I’m not particularly fond of the past. Once I’m done with the presentation, I only look at mistakes and things to work on. And then I move. It’s the nature of the industry – a six month life cycle – its short and crisp, its fast yet full.
Will I be developing more digital prints for the next collection? Maybe, maybe not, depends on where the process leads me.

3. Are you a procrastinator or do you usually have your collections planned the moment an inspiration or idea takes root?

The clothes are merely an end product of a process of research and introspection. They are just about as important as the soundtrack or the lights or the props – they’re all coming together to tell a story. They only reflect the journey and its very significant points. As I said the journey is more important right now. At a nascent stage of artistic development, it’s important to research and look and try different approaches to develop your own. That’s how my process has been up until now. I have some subjects that I address through my work- of power, strength, courage, ambition … things that I admire and find attractive and stimulating. Of late I have looked across a lot of different references that bring forth such issues. But I’m even tired of that approach now. The minute it gets too familiar, it tends to lose its excitement. I’m now restructuring my work process… identifying the key looks, shapes, representative elements, etc. – something a little less diverse, and more focused and distilled. Although the main direction always emerges clearly once the clothes tangibly start coming out, but before that its six months of research. So I guess I’m a bit of both. But if I work too much in advance then I get bored of the idea … too much familiarity can be unattractive.

4. How has the high-end luxury brand influx in India changed the local fashion scene?

People have more things to buy. The brands have more people to cater to. The magazines have glossier handbags to feature. And the average Indian can pronounce a lot more names at ease. But I wish this easier access to world culture would help inculcate a yearning for a more educated taste.

5. How do you feel about more and more celebrities choosing to wear International labels at various award functions and other public events? As a designer do you feel our homespun designers aren’t getting their due?

It’s not such a big issue. Its huge publicity currency but really… you wouldn’t have brands running after you unless you were someone worth it, even if that is momentary. Besides, if Indian actors are endorsing international brands at award shows, its very easy to understand where it is coming from – it just makes them more easily acceptable – not just visually but also because they come across as international rather than ethnic. Frida Pinto wearing Dolce & Gabbbana or Zac Posen effortlessly makes her an easier product to absorb globally, she confirms to a universally acceptable language- and it helps her get where she wants to faster than if she came clutching on to her Indianness as her only charm.

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6. Who is that one Indian celebrity that you are just itching to give a make-over to? Don’t hold back on us!?

If someone is miserably dressed, that’s their bad luck. I’m not interested in visual social service.

7. Five essentials that should take us through the seasons this year?

I’m quite old school about such things. The basics are the most important.
Good Face, tight skin, fit body, young smell, and fresh breath.

8. How would you describe your own sense of style?

Sharp T-shirts. Worn out Jeans. Sharp hair. Sharp shoes. Workout.

9. Is it the clothing that adds allure to a woman or a woman who makes the clothing more alluring with her personality?

Lets face it. Substance comes first.

10. And finally…

a. One word that describes you?
Evolving.

b. A trend you wish would go away?
Empty Headed … there is nothing more vulgar than style without personality.

c. A trend you can’t get enough of?
Super Strong.

d. Shoes or bags?
Good sex.

e. If you weren’t a designer, you would be?
An Artist.

f. One thing Prashant Verma cannot live without?
Work.

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Prashant Verma Fall 09

Image courtesy: Yahoo

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Q&A Wednesday With Swapnil Shinde

A quick Q&A with designer Swapnil Shinde…

And, don’t forget to check out our Directory Page for more info on various designers…

1. As a designer, what inspires you? Have a muse?

As a designer one always expects you to have an inspiration….but somehow for me its always been about my music, what I’m listening to at that point in time….sometimes its “beedi” from Omkara..then there is the Bjork phase…at times its Britney Spears…hahaahah then there is world music….it’s always very diverse….thus my mood, and my music always reflects in my work….it’s good sometimes… bad at times… really tacky at times….perfect at times….but that’s the art of being creative…..though I must admit I do have my share of muses, mainly my models…Amrit Maghera and Mashoom Singha to be precise… these days its undoubtedly Priyanka Chopra in her short hair!

2. Are you a procrastinator or do you usually have your collections planned the moment an inspiration or idea takes root?

It would be good and ideal for me to say everything is always planned….but I must admit that there have been times when I have planned out my collection down to the sampling….then suddenly I would see a piece of architecture…or listen to an Italian song ….or for that matter a Versace gown which would build a whole new story on its own …so I guess it’s only fair to say I’m very spontaneous .

3. How has the high-end luxury brand influx in India changed the local fashion scene?

It’s made us as designers, and people in general more aware, and given fashion a certain sense of importance…people are considering it NOW a serious business, importance is given not just to finish and pricing but also marketing your brand…importance of brand ambassadors etc.

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4. How do you feel about more and more celebrities choosing to wear International labels at various award functions and other public events? As a designer do you feel our homespun designers aren’t getting their due?

I think that is a major misunderstanding…that our celebrities wear international brands, on the contrary Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu , Aishwarya Rai to name a few have chosen Indian designers for red carpet events as opposed to international ones, probably just for smalltime events they would choose international brands, which is only fair to them as they need to break their monotony of being loyal to one designer although I’m not complaining there either!!!! You have young girls like Mugdha Godse, Neha Dhupia, Asin etc sporting young and upcoming designers which is great.

5. How much of an effect has global recession had on the ‘design’ process? Is this a time when prices should be cut, or staying put and riding it out is better?

For me recession has not been an issue mainly because my costing has always been affordable from the day I began my business, my clientele is the young college going girl who can’t afford a 40,000 dress but can chip out 6000 to 8000 for an evening attire and thus my design process has never suffered, my brand has always been sexy, fresh, but very edgy and not predictable….but most importantly very affordable.

6. Who is that one Indian celebrity that you are just itching to give a make-over to? Don’t hold back on us!?

Although I believe everyone is entitled to make mistakes as we are only human, I would most certainly love to do a makeover with Vidya Balan not because of how she is now as I think she looks fine…but I personally believe she is undoubtedly sexy and has an aura which is undeniable…but needs more help where it comes to westernwear….enter SWAPNIL SHINDE

7. Five essentials that should take us through the seasons this year?

Mini handbags in dirty colours (get rid of acids and juicy), a fitted to flare black dress, sunglasses, a super cool customized laptop bag, masculine chunky watches.

8. How would you describe your own sense of style?

Relaxed and sporty , I am just like my brand , I am a modern guy who goes to the gym, eats healthy food and would want to wear clothes that are comfortable yet charming!

9. Is it the clothing that adds allure to a woman or a woman who makes the clothing more alluring with her personality?

Its always that hidden ex factor which usually comes out of confidence…and that confidence has to be your own….no expensive dresses which are perfect from tip to toe can give you that…..you can wear a plastic bag with towel and make it work….the biggest example for that is Sarah Jessica Parker and in India its Sonam Kapoor.

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10. And finally…

a. One word that describes you?
Spontaneous

b. A trend you wish would go away?
Balloon and cocoon (pls women wear fitted stuff, enough already with the balloons , cocoons, sacks, bags etc etc)

c. A trend you can’t get enough of?
Priyanka Chopra in short hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

d. Shoes or bags?
Shoes…..you can go with no bags to an event but bad shoes are unforgivable!

e. If you weren’t a designer, you would be?
A dancer

f. One thing Swapnil Shinde cannot live without?
My dance

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Swapnil Shinde Fall 2009

Image courtesy: Yahoo

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