Tête-à-tête Part II - Designer Shallabh Mittal

Interview of Fashion Designer Shallabh Mittal - Bangalore Fashion Week 2013

Another talented Designer Shallabh Mittal, unveiled a fabulous collection during the Bangalore Fashion Week 2013 Winter Festive. His collection had the right mix of the East and the West. The Cocktail Dresses and Evening Gowns with elaborate hand made Embroidery by skilled Indian Craftsmen sure did steal the show. 

Here's me talking to him about his collection:

Me: What inspired you to be a Fashion Designer?

Shallabh: Since school I was good in Drawing, therefore after 10^th I chose to study fine arts in which I scored the highest. Untill then I was not sure about it and never ever thought of becoming a fashion designer.

Few months after I completed my 10+2, I visited the British council in Delhi where I applied for a 1 year Diploma Course from London College of Fashion. The first 3 months I did not enjoy London, then the 2^nd semester of my Fashion Diploma I started liking and enjoying it and at the end of it I decided to apply for a BA (Hons.) Fashion Design and Marketing. Luckily I got through and 3 years went by quickly, it was then that I was confident about what I wanted to do once I was done with my studies.

So here I am, Shallabh Radhikaby Shallabh Mittal

·    Me: How would you define your personal style?

Shallabh: My style is very Classy and English; you will mostly see me in Shirts, Jeans and a pair of Loafers

·   Me: What was your Inspiration for your latest collection? How would you define the style your line exemplifies?

Shallabh: This time for fall winter-13, I was inspired by both the British and Indian Cultures, so I mixed both the styles. The cuts and shapes you see in the collection have been influence by my journey to UK and the details such as Hand embroidery on Pashmina fabric is an Indian technique, which makes the collection look elegant and classy.

 

·    Me: Who are some of your favourite designers?

Shallabh: There are few names which keep rolling in my mind but, right now the first name that comes up is Roberto Cavalli.

·    Me: What advice do you have for aspiring fashion designers?

Shallabh: In the Fashion Industry you have to always keep learning, improving and inventing something new, even I’m learning so I can’t give any advice.  

·    Me: Where can readers see/buy your designs ? 

Shallabh: They can visit our website www.shallabhradhika.comand email us on shallabh@shallabhradhika.com, info@shallabhradhika.com and very soon we will be available at all the major cities in India.

A few of my favorite pieces from his previous collection include a Shrug, a dress and skirts with Origami Details 

That's all for now.. I hope you loved the beautiful dresses by Shallabh Mittal. Don't forget to leave me your comments

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PS: Copyrights to all the above pictures is held by the Designer and his Label unless otherwise stated.

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Tête-à-tête with Designer - Pallavi Naidu

Conversation and feature Fashion Designer Pallavi Naidu

I'm a South Indian as well, my Mom grew-up wearing Langa-Davanis. Although I have few of them in my closet, I do not wear them as a pair. I always bring in a twist; eg.: pair the skirt with a pair of Boots and a Leather Jacket or pair the Blouse with a Drop Crotch Pant. I remember my relatives telling me:

"What's wrong with you??! Why are you even spoiling a beautiful (expensive) ensemble by pairing it with weird looking Pants and Jackets". 

So, Pallavi Naidu's Collection for me was a huge inspiration. It proved that we can wear Indian traditional attire by making it look fresh and in sync with current trends in terms of colour, Fabrics, Prints, Blouse patterns embracing the fact that traditional outfits can be given an edgy twist.

Here's 'Me' in conversation with Pallavi Naidu:

Me:  What inspired you to be a Fashion Designer?

Pallavi: I like creating new things. Information or innovations fascinate me, from which I derive my inspiration. I like mixing up things just to see what happens, irrelevant to the circumstances. Joining NIFT, helped me in processing and executing my designs. Soon after which, I worked for renowned designers in Mumbai, for hands-on experience in the fashion industry. When I thought I was ready to launch, I resigned the company and started working on my own.

Me: What’s your personal style?

Pallavi: Something that I’m comfortable in. Its often a tee or a kurta with a pair of jeans.

Me: You took the Langa-Davani/Voni Tradition to a whole new level with fresh colours and fabrics.What inspired your latest collection? How would you define the style your Collection ‘PALLU’ exemplifies?

Pallavi: This is my debut collection and it’s a creative experimentation which I believe would be accepted by girls who want to try something ethnic yet more casual and street smart. The look of this collection is outgoing in its own way. The use of denims and knits itself gives the feeling for leisure and dreaminess.  So I teamed it up with colored Gandhi glasses for a day-out-look. My inspiration is my vicinity and my tradition. Our moms were told to wear half sarees as a daily wear in those days, but I didn’t find that tradition to be continuing and I thought why not come up with a casual line of langa voni. PALLU means a loose end of a saree, which I thought was apt for this collection.

  

Me: I heard Arjun Khanna say “If we do not exhibit a Wedding Collection we’ll be out of business this season”. When all the other designers were only concentrating on a wedding collection for the impending season, what made you come up with a collection that defied this tradition? 

Pallavi: This is a winter collection. If its only wedding collection, then people have to hunt for       weddings to happen just to wear the wedding collection. I designed keeping the season in mind.

Me: Who is your muse? Who do you think is eternally beautiful, stylish and inspired/inspires you the most?

Pallavi: Indrani Dasgupta! I love her features and she is just gorgeous.

Me: Who is/are your favorite designer/s? What do you like about him/her/them?

Pallavi: I have favorites depending on the collections they showcase. I can’t pick one in particular.

Me: What advice do you have for aspiring fashion designers? 

Pallavi: Haven’t reached a stage where I can give advices. I’m learning myself.

Me: Where can readers see and get their hands on your collection?

Pallavi: We haven’t retailed yet. But the website and other retail addresses are coming up soon. Meanwhile they can contact us through email: design@pallavinaidu.in, or follow us on facebook and twitter.

Me: Is there Anything else you'd like to say?

Pallavi: Quoted by Alexander McQueen, which I truly relate to: “I think there is beauty in everything. What ‘normal’ people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it.”

Me: True That! :)

Hope I've captured the spirit of the designer well enough, to inspire you to continue pairing ethnic ensembles with a twitst. You can follow Pallavi Naidu on Facebook here! Also here's the previous article 'Trend Report on Pallavi Naidu's collection' Do leave me your comments! 

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Pallavi Naidu's BFW 2013 Trend Report

Pallavi Naidu's BFW 2013 Trend Report

It was Day 4 of BFW, waiting for the first show to begin we were hoping atleast One designer would sweep us off our feet with something Out-of-the-Box! And then..it did happen..!! 

All the spotlights unveiling Pallavi Naidu's Debut Collection 'PALLU'. 

I remember all of us looking at them jaws-dropped with wonder! The models walked-in wearing Teashades (John Lennon or Gandhi Sunglasses) and outfits which were a modern take on the Langa-Davani/Voni, (a.k.a Half-sarees, A traditional attire worn by women in Southern part of India). 

Here's the collection:

Here's what I like about her collection: 

Edgy Blouses: in Sporty, crop top, Bustier patterns, one even with a Jacket on.

 Backs that included Criss Crosses, jacket styles, rolled up single straps, my favorite was the exposed zipper, racer back in grey and blue

Colour pallette in Sober Base tones like Nude/Beige, Slate Grey, and a pop of colour in Pastel Shades of Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink; either on the Dupatta, cuff or the hemlines

Denims in Indian Silhouettes, Delicate floral prints on Cotton, undone hemlines of Denim Skirts,  Skirts with Frills, Fish Tails, Scalloped hemlines to add a Gypsy feel to the outfit.

Accessories included Teashades in colours Brown, Black, Mirror Finished Grey
While most models wore Nude and Black Heels a few of them wore Ballet flats with cap-toes matching their outfit

Trendy! Aren't they ? 

That's all for now! Do come back coz coming up tomorrow is an Interview with the Designer herself! 

Don't forget to leave me your comments. 

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