“I wish I could have shown you a piece from my Suzani collection… they have all sold out,” says Vivek Narang, the Delhi-based designer, in the city for a show of his creations.
Showing his collections on display at Amethyst, Vivek points out that his clothes belong to the walk-in closet and not the ramp. Indian silhouettes in vibrant colours balanced an under-stated elegance that emerged through simple and clean cuts. “These are wearable clothes,” he says.
Targeted at the contemporary woman, the clothes display old-fashioned techniques in stitching, coming together on a canvas of natural and vintage fibre. India, Central Asia and Burma lend the inspirational touch, as is evident in the Suzani fabrics from Bukhara and Samarkand, while the Mughal influences meet the eye in motifs.
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Hanging in different alcoves, the clothes initially grab the eyeball with a burst of colour that gradually takes the backseat as the intricate hand work takes over. There's the pleated collection, the Mughal flowers collection, the Suzani collection, the kantha collection and the old brocade collection, all put together for the show.
Silks in all their variety were the showstoppers, each suave and heavy with embellishments such as elaborate kantha work or the Suzani embroidery. Aware of the South's preoccupation with silk on festivities, he asks: “The kanjivarams are a must here at weddings, aren't they?”
With tags such as ‘Indian' and ‘natural', how does he translate his clothes to his international clientele that includes the likes of Uma Thurman, Bianca Jagger and the famed Roberto Cappucci? “Something very Indian and understated appeals to the international customer,” he says, and adds, “Customising to suit different tastes is always on the cards.”
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While tunics, kurtas, blouses and jackets priced upwards of Rs. 6,000, scarves made from recycled fabrics will cost you around Rs. 2,000. The exhibition is on till December 29, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Amethyst.