‘There is a lot of Kashmiri influence in my collection’
Designer Varun Bahl has been constantly working on his menswear collection for a long time. His creations have been adorned by big names in the industry and Bahl has managed to create a niche for himself in the world of fashion. Bahl’s exclusive winter festive collection was recently launched in Delhi.
Known for his standout menswear designs, Bahl has a different view about the future of men’s fashion internationally. “It’s only recently that men’s fashion has boomed in India, internationally men’s fashion is quite big and men are quite fashion-conscious. Indian men have recently started experimenting with patterns, colours and different styles. I have experimented with floral prints for men in my couture collection and they worked amazingly well,” he tells Guardian 20.
Before starting his own label in 2001, Bahl assisted his family in the export business. He decided to become a designer as he realised that a lot of people wanted a modern version of Indian wear staples.
The designer’s Kashmiri background has really influenced his collections. The use of floral prints in his designs is evident because his collections are close to his roots. “There is a lot of Kashmiri influence in my collection, whether it is the soft colours in my palette or the use of florals in my collection. Flowers have an almost sacred place in my collection which stems from my love for my heritage,” he says. For Bahl, classics are contemporary: “I make designs that never go out of fashion but I love infusing one aspect of a current trend into them. Ruffles and floral bomber jackets have been one of them.”
When asked what is his idea of designing for a particular theme, he says, he looks for inspiration before designing any collection. Talking about the things he looks for before designing any collection, he says, “Architecture, nature and new cultures are things that inspires me. Trends are also something that I love incorporating in my designs.”
There are large number of young designers who are struggling to make their name in the competitive world of fashion. Advising to those young designers whose work goes unnoticed, he says, “Keep at it, believe in yourself and never give up! Keep working harder and one day you’ll make it big. It’s also important to motivate yourself and it’s always great to find a mentor who can guide and help you.”
Bahl believes that fashion depicts society. “Fashion in a way mirrors society, it goes hand in hand. Today everyone wants instant gratification and hence fast-fashion is in and trends change rapidly. Today designers are taking out 4-6 collections in a year whereas earlier 1-2 collections used to come out per year,” he says.
Among his recent fashion shows, Bahl has used different colour palettes and floral prints. He also thinks that nowadays women are experimenting more in bridal wear. When asked whether he thinks that the idea of traditional bridal wear is changing in India, he says, “Definitely. Brides are now looking at a trousseau that blends traditional with contemporary; they want to look trendy while respecting the traditions of their family.”
Having styled many celebrities in his unique and antique collections, Bahl is different when it comes to his own styling. The designer defines his signature style as understated and elegant. “You’ll mostly find me in denims and wellfitted black shirts,” he says.
Speaking on Indian designers collaborating with International designers, he says, “I think that’s a superb idea; foreigners love anything India-inspired and the colours and motifs used by us. The collaboration is a great way for an Indian designer to get global recognition.”
Talking about his exclusive winter festive collection which he recently launched at Ensemble, he says, “My Fall 2016 collection includes bridal and trousseau styles. I’ve included lehengas, saris, and tunics with a lot of 3D embroideries and beadwork in floral patterns paired with badla embellished belts and crystal necklines, all done over printed highlights. The colour palette contains mustard, black, deep red, midnight blue, pistachio, coral, navy, plum, and ivory, as well as my favourite pastels like old rose and ducked blue, making this collection ideal for a soft winter wedding look.”
“I make designs that never go out of fashion but I love infusing one aspect of a current trend into them. Ruffles and floral bomber jackets have been one of them.”