To celebrate its silver jubilee anniversary, Ogaan, one of the country’s oldest multi designer fashion boutiques, is hosting a unique exhibition of experienced couturiers who have been a part of its journey, as well as new entrants, at its Hauz Khas store.
The weeklong exhibition, which concludes this Sunday, is not another run-of-the-mill event, but a nostalgic affair for Ogaan’s proprietor Kavita Bhartia. It matters a lot to her as she is showcasing the work of those who were associated with her when she opened her first store in Delhi, one which literally laid the foundation of Indian fashion.
“In November, 1989 I opened the store with the late designer Rohit Khosla. It was the second multi-brand store in the country and the idea was to showcase the design and craft of Indian designers under one roof. The first such store in the country was opened by Tarun Tahiliani in Bombay. So I followed Tarun and gave an opportunity to Rohit Bal, Shahab Durazi, Madhu Jain and Anamika Khanna.” Noting that this is the way fashion has evolved in other countries, Kavita says, “This concept exists all over the world. In 1980s there were only local durzees and people had to travel abroad to get their share of garments and accessories. We have a long way to go but slowly and steadily our designers have become experts and are now giving competition to designers across the world. They are in the business of fashion globally because of multiple factors like unique content in terms of designing and better pricing. So they are leading a wave of Indian fashion.”
But isn’t she envious of the fact that top notch designers, who began their journey with her, have branched out and given competition to Ogaan? “Well this happens everywhere. The likes of Rohit Bal are so talented that they would have made a name for themselves on their own. Rohit could not give his collection at the last minute but I am happy that Tarun, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anamika gave their collections for this exhibition, which means a lot to me.” On naming the store Ogaan, she says “It comes from a Sanskrit word which means ‘something for everybody’. It was short, easy to pronounce and had international flavour.”
Among those who showcased their work at Kavita’s first store is Madhu Jain. “The first outfit which was sold at Kavita’s store was designed by me. It was priced at Rs.995 and was embellished with rudraksh and shell embroidery. When Kavita opened the store, designers who showcased their work included Sunita Kapoor, wife of actor Anil Kapoor, Rohit Khosla and Manisha Jai Singh.”
“This time round I am showcasing special type of custom made woven Ikkat. I am a craft revivalist, who works with villagers specialising in the art of weaving,” says Madhu. The brief given to each designer was to create a collection reflecting their unique sensibilities as a brand. Anamika Khanna, known for using embroidery in an aesthetic way and reinventing herself with every collection, has created jackets, draped saris and capes for this exhibition. “As I get bored quickly I like experimenting and pushing boundaries. Earlier, we followed trends and trend reports. Now it is not so much about what is in fashion. Now it is all about recognising who you are as opposed to following trends that may not work for you.” Ruchika Sachdeva, showcasing her collection “Bodice”, has created clothes that range from oversized shirts to traditionally tailored trousers. “I have created impeccably tailored outfits.” There are 25 designers participating in the exhibition.
