DESIGNER GOES TO LONDON SHOW
AFTER MAKING her fashion week debut last year, a Finchampstead-based designer has launched her second collection at London Fashion Week.
Vaishali Ragunathan showcased her latest work exploring messages of hope through vibrant colour on Saturday, September 19.
Closing the show, Ms Ragunathan unveiled 11 pieces from her Colours of Life collection, including a showstopper dress.
“They were based on emotions,” she explained. “I was trying to portray the emotions of the pandemic using colour. I used yellow, green, pink and coral, mixed with denim.”
Ms Ragunathan said she felt each colour represented a feeling; blue denim for calm, trust and integrity; yellow for happiness and optimism; green for health and growth; coral for change and pink for romance and playfulness.
Specialising in ballgowns and wedding dresses, Ms Ragunathan has been subject to the changing lockdown restrictions as a designer.
“It’s been scary and crazy over the last six months,” she said.
“I’ve had 11 brides who had to postpone their weddings this year. I’ve helped and supported them. Weddings aren’t just an emotional and financial commitment, it's a symbol of moving into the next step of your life.
“We’re living in such an unknown world at the moment, for the bridal business it's been an emotional roller-coaster.”
Building on that experience, Ms Ragunathan said her Colours of Life collection could be worn as wedding dresses or cocktail dresses tomany types of events.
“I incorporated denim with lace,” she explained. “We can’t have big weddings at the moment, and everyone loves a white gown.
“But I wanted to create something sustainable that people could wear again.”
She added: “My designs were so beautifully received. At the event, people said the collection was amazing and wearable — I’m so overwhelmed by it. It’s so different from last year's collection too.”
At her first London Fashion Week event last year, Ms Ragunathan explored symbols of female empowerment, and her showstopper piece featured 40 metres of silk, handembellished with sequinned dragonflies.
This year’s collection was more versatile, she explained. And her eco-friendly ethos remained.
“All ofmy fabrics are fromthe UK,” she added. “I used satin, silk, crepe, lace and denim.
“Sustainability is a key factor in the design of the collection — I want to get people thinking outside the box for bridal dresses as weddings are happening with so many restrictions; I wanted to create outfits which could be worn for different occasions; and to help reduce the throwaway culture.”
And profits from the event went to The Top Model Foundation, a children’s charity established within the fashion industry.
“I was blessed to be able to show off my creativity again,” Ms Ragunathan said.
“And if I can help and support a charity while doing so, why would I not join in?”
She added: “It was so different this year. Last year I was showcasing to 300 people, this year only 30.
“But now people are approaching me as a designer. Last year, I was speaking to everyone to let them know I exist.
“This year, a photographer came all the way from Bristol, specifically to photograph my collection.
“Anyone can make a dress, but it's how it’s received — that tells you your value as a designer.”
For more information about Ms Ragunathan’s work, visit: www.vzperfection.co.uk