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Fusion Funda: Sundry Hues Pack A Punch: HT City
New Delhi, Feb 07: Being the daughter of renowned novelist, the late Manjul Bhagat, it`s natural that fashion designer Poonam Bhagat inherited creativity. The Psychology topper from LSR became a designer by accident when she launched her label, Taika (meaning `magic` in Finnish), 12 years back.
New Delhi, Feb 07: Being the daughter of renowned novelist, the late Manjul Bhagat, it’s natural that fashion designer Poonam Bhagat inherited creativity. The Psychology topper from LSR became a designer by accident when she launched her label, Taika (meaning ‘magic’ in Finnish), 12 years back.
And now, as she presents her fusionwear at the Metropolitan Hotel Nikko on Feb. 8, Bhagat says: “For the first time I’ve worked with brocade and my choice was dull gold. The open jackets are fused with a black inner to tone down the look. The embroidery on saris, skirts or quilted jackets is a confluence of different cultures.”
Her inspirations are varied – Mexican, Japanese, Turkish and Panamanian. And she hasn’t forgotten the paisleys, phool pattis or the kairis. You also catch the influence of tribal patterns like Molas (reverse appliqué stitch popular among Cuna Indians of Panama) and Aztec tribal art. “The idea was fusion so it had to be a blend of influences, brought out in cuts and silhouettes,” points out Bhagat.
However, her focus as always is to flatter the Indian form. Heavy fabrics are intermingled with lighter ones to create ankle-length skirts in fruity colours. The showstealers are handpainted saris with bustiers. “I translated the paintings of German artist Lena Weyer onto georgette saris. The basic colour is ivory but the geometric lines on the saris are a kaleidoscope of hues,” says Bhagat. The other three shaded, crepe saris are wearable, with minimum zardosi and in spring colours.
She’ll also showcase back knits, including fitted short tops with silk collars and cuffs. For a grand finale, Bhagat has designed a lehegna, something she’s never done before. “It’s an orange and red lehenga with zardosi bootis and tissue border. It’s more like a skirt, feisty and synonymous with the evening’s theme,” she says.
And now, as she presents her fusionwear at the Metropolitan Hotel Nikko on Feb. 8, Bhagat says: “For the first time I’ve worked with brocade and my choice was dull gold. The open jackets are fused with a black inner to tone down the look. The embroidery on saris, skirts or quilted jackets is a confluence of different cultures.”
Her inspirations are varied – Mexican, Japanese, Turkish and Panamanian. And she hasn’t forgotten the paisleys, phool pattis or the kairis. You also catch the influence of tribal patterns like Molas (reverse appliqué stitch popular among Cuna Indians of Panama) and Aztec tribal art. “The idea was fusion so it had to be a blend of influences, brought out in cuts and silhouettes,” points out Bhagat.
However, her focus as always is to flatter the Indian form. Heavy fabrics are intermingled with lighter ones to create ankle-length skirts in fruity colours. The showstealers are handpainted saris with bustiers. “I translated the paintings of German artist Lena Weyer onto georgette saris. The basic colour is ivory but the geometric lines on the saris are a kaleidoscope of hues,” says Bhagat. The other three shaded, crepe saris are wearable, with minimum zardosi and in spring colours.
She’ll also showcase back knits, including fitted short tops with silk collars and cuffs. For a grand finale, Bhagat has designed a lehegna, something she’s never done before. “It’s an orange and red lehenga with zardosi bootis and tissue border. It’s more like a skirt, feisty and synonymous with the evening’s theme,” she says.