Designing clothes for the work force in IT firms can be challenging.
Reason?
It's a long day at work often with extended shifts, deadlines, meetings and strenuous commuting, which demands an ensemble that is chic yet comfortable. Further, working in a global workspace leaves no space for bling and garish hues. City fashion designer Mukta Bajaj believes that work wear in IT offices can be trendy and affordable at the same time.
After a successful run of trousseau, prêt and fusion lines under her label Perfection since 1999, today her focus has been on IT and corporate work spaces. She started working on the collection for software pros a year ago and today with exhibitions in San Jose and other IT hubs in the US and in the software firms city, the fact that her exhibitions are a sell out is an indicator of the demand for haute stuff in the tech space.
“My clients range from associates who are 20-years-old to 35-years-old women in senior roles. As the software professionals are hard pressed for time we go to the campus with the collection. A lot of thinking goes in designing the clothes. The lines are designed in ‘no maintenance' fabrics that don't need ironing and stay crumple free. Also, the silhouettes should be comfortable. So we opt for flowy kaftans and flared kurtas with umbrella cuts. Everyone wants to look slim and thus you find the use of lycra in the collection,” says Bajaj.
Much like the office spaces and cubicles in burnt orange sporting yellow smileys, her collection is a riot of high energy colours.
Red kurtis with subtle embroidery that can be sported with leggings and Patiala salwars alike, printed tops in mul and chikan work salwar kameez paired with an appliqué work dupatta complete with a shaded lace edge are some of the lines that are just right for the office wear.
A contemporary twist to the traditional ‘Parsi gara' hand embroidery using abstract motifs, usage of block prints on spun silk kurtas and keeping the styling simple is the mantra that has the techies flocking to her studio near Secunderabad Club, on the Wellington Road.
Come Sundays and she has a packed schedule with IT pros and bank officers dropping by with appointments for their work wear.
“Most ladies prefer salwar kameez, especially with full sleeves to avoid tanning. There are clothes for daily wear, team outings and board meetings. For informal parties there are cotton kurtas with pintucks and velvet for a glossy effect.
'For MBA graduates we design business suits. One has to be tactful in designing business suits for women so that the suits sport a slim fit and look elegant at the same time,” she says, as she gets working on the new shipment for the Indian women working in the US-based software firms.
