As Chennai gears up for the festive weekend, designer Lakshmi Srinath prepares for the unveiling of her Vishu collection.
All variations of the traditional Keralite set mundu , the outfits have been created at Srinath’s design studio, Tvam, over the last few months. She’s ready to celebrate Tamil New Year, but her inspiration this time, she says, comes from Kerala.
“The set mundu , an equivalent of our dhavani, has immense potential. So far, it’s mostly been showcased in an orthodox fashion. I’m trying to broaden the horizons and bring versatility to the garment,” says Srinath. She’s broken away from the signature off-white and gold combination, adding splashes of colour and a blend of fabrics, including cotton, Chanderi silk, and tissue.
Some aspects, though, have been retained — such as the temple borders with patterns reminiscent of the kasavu sari. “I’ve given the conventional appearance a twist. By innovating with varying fabrics, colours and patterns that aren’t usually seen in the set mundu , I want to offer people something new for the festival season.”
Festival garments, says Srinath, are her forte. She specialises in concept clothing, based largely on regional festivals. She recently rang in the New Year with a Pongal collection that had her innovating with Tamil Nadu’s finest festival wear. Celebrations remind her of her own upbringing in a conventional family where festivals were rung in with enthusiasm; this has shaped her design aesthetic too.
The studio holds an array of Srinath’s creations, along with a line of jewellery meant to complement her seasonal collection. She adds: “My clothing is an extension of my art, and each collection has my creative stamp on it.”
