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The lightness of summer

DNBAN55918 | 4/26/2012 | Author : Priyadarshini Nandy | WC :475

Diva of Indian fashion, Ritu Kumar recently launched her Spring-Summer 2012 collection; here, she talks about the line and how simple it is to look good…
HAUTE COUTURE

Please tell us a little bit about your Spring-Summer 2012 collection? Where do your inspirations lie, specifically for this collection?
The inspiration for the SS'12 collection comes from the new-age, modern woman who is unafraid to experiment with cutting edge fashion; accepting the unconventional and rejecting anything blasé. The collection is dominated by soft, delicate fabrics replete with summer hues and chic metallic accentuations.

In summer, most women tend to go very simple on colour and fabrics. Could you give some suggestions as to how one can enhance their look, for a special occasion, without having to sweat in their clothes?
Keep the garments simple and elegant and
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accentuate the look with light accessories such as beaded jewellery, classic earrings and neutral make-up. Add to this a contemporary leather clutch or handbag, and one is set for the special occasion.

When you talk about prêt wear, Indian designers have come a long way. They've now reached out to more people as far as competitive pricing and locations are concerned… what are your opinions on the same. What changes have you seen in the Indian prêt market in the last 5-6 years?
Indian fashion is alive and kicking with New Delhi leading the fashion energy and finding its own special niche which most international brands cannot decipher. The retail sector is healthy with indigenous high street brands — but the exciting area is the Indian creative entrepreneur-designer who is making new silhouettes for the newly
affluent Indian.

Many designers tie up with retail brands to create a special off-the-rack collection. But does this give the customer a true flavour of what the designer is really capable of? What do you think?
The story of India's famous designers comes from him or her being rooted in India's textile craft expertise and this, I believe, can be truly showcased only in the boutiques of the designers' own creations.

Even after having been part of the Indian fashion industry for so many years, do you still sometimes find it difficult to dress up a woman? As a designer, do you think women are more guided by their whim when it comes to shopping or do they, unlike what people believe, actually think through when they're out buying clothes and accessories?
With different categories of affluence in the country come different categories of women, so in today's market, one gets to witness the women guided by their whim as they are time-constrained, but also the women who like to plan every detail of their wardrobe and spend countless time matching their accessories and creating the perfect look for themselves. I enjoy dressing the different women I come across; every individual brings a unique style with her.

Tell us a little about your future projects? What are you working on right now?
I am working on my second book for which I am currently doing a lot of research.