Indian designers’ flair and classic allure at Design Collective
The Design Collective, started by three friends Binu Wickramasinghe, Shahili Gomes and Tharushi Mendis is a store that promotes the creations of local designers as well as designers from South East Asia. Encouraging group collaboration and female leadership in fashion, the retail space boasts an interactive shared work area, in which designers and customers engage and exchange ideas.
A chance meeting with renowned Indian designers Gauri and Nainika Karan saw Shahili Gomes persuading them to launch an exclusive capsule collection at the Design Collective.
Gauri and Nainika Karan with their elegant evening wear have taken the fashion world by storm, their designs worn by both Bollywood and Hollywood A-listers like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, SIA and Carrie Underwood. Their designs have been showcased on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, People’s Choice Awards, Filmfare Awards and more.
Their label screams glamour, flair and classic allure. “People love the fact that they can get high-end wear in terms of western wear that it is very elegant,lady-like and formal. It’s all about occasion wear. Our clothes are simple yet elegant, and they always have that hint of drama, always making a statement. The bottom line is that our clothes are ultra feminine and women feel special in our clothes,”’ says Nainika when asked what their unique selling point was.
Gauri with her classic and somewhat old world style opts for a more clean, simple refined look while Nainika loves to experiment with all kind of styles- be it boho chic, classic glamour or edgy street style always inspired by strong women with a natural, unaffected and innate sense of style, who are comfortable in their own skin. Audrey Hepburn continues to be their biggest inspiration in fashion- growing up and even now. Cate Blanchett has always stood out for them with her grace, elegance and understated style.
One of the most important style tips Gauri and Nainika follow is ‘Don’t overdo your look with everything. It’s all about balance’.
Here are extracts from their email interview: fast paced, and ever changing- so to be able to set yourself apart from designers globally and offer something new and unique, to match global quality standards, to always outdo yourself. These are some of the challenges faced by all designers.
We can’t say. We really enjoy being a part of industry and love it for being so fast paced, ever evolving and inspiring. I suppose copyright infringement laws in India could be more strict. Whether it’s high street brands, local boutiques or upcoming designers, designer styles being widely copied becomes very detrimental for the designer. We would like to say that every piece we make, no matter how simple, makes the wearer feel special and when you step into a Gauri & Nainika dress, you’re stepping into the role of a movie star who’s ultra chic, glamorous and revels in her femininity.