By Neehar Mishra
Photography: courtesy the
designers
‘Quirky’
announces the season’s Lakme Fashion Week, with designers opting for out-of-the-box
concepts, materials and techniques to create products that are unconventional and
high on style.
Two such
budding designers, Rohan Arora and Felix Bendish, who are receiving rave reviews,
stretch the ‘creative streak’ to accessories – the sine
qua non of haute couture.
Based
in Kolkata, Rohan’s career in designing was completely unplanned. Without an
academic background in design, his gut and passionate persistence gave him his
first break at the LFW 2011, where his chic and quirky footwear designs led
many veterans in the fashion industry to take notice.
|
. |
His
idiosyncratic style reflects in his choice of bright colours and unusual
materials. Ask him about the quirkiest materials he has ever used, and he is
quick to point out, “We have created hand-woven khadi shoes, which we showcased at last year’s LFW. We are also the
first to use chicken-feet leather to make designer shoes.”
|
. |
Considered
“beyond imagination comfortable shoes”, his
designs are in demand on the ramp, a hint of quintessential humour
making an all new statement in footwear. This season Rohan aims to revive the real craft of shoe-making using obsolete
techniques possible only by the human hand.
|
. |
With his personal line
of bags underway and his plans
to venture into belts, the young designer is greatly inspired by the likes of
Mark Baker, Cavalli, Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi.
|
. |
Felix
Bendish was born with design ingrained in his DNA. His grand-uncle was the
designer for the epic film, Mughal-e-Azam.
Having launched his brand in 2001, creating beautiful clothing and styling for
personal clientele, Bollywood movies, television, fashion shows and award
functions, Felix soon began to dabble in designing accessories. It was his
first big break at the Wills India Fashion Week 2010 that set the ball rolling.
|
. |
“My
philosophy is to dare, innovate and create design centric products,” says
Felix, describing his style statement. “My forte in design lies in hand
embroideries; hence all my products and accessories are embroidered in
different techniques and mediums,” he further adds.
|
. |
Felix
loves to experiment with fabrics, even while designing jewellery. “Once,
while twisting and turning a half metre fabric, I realised that it took the
shape of a neckpiece. I added some crystals on it, and Voila!” he exclaims. His
collection at this season’s LFW draws inspiration from the fluidity of the detailed palette and
lines of French Artist, Henri Matisse’s goldfish paintings.
|
. |
Celebrating a new era of fashion infused
with luxurious dosage of graceful art, Felix has incorporated this idea
into imaginative and exquisitely designed brooches and neckpieces. Titled
‘Flow’, the collection extends to hair
accessories, cuffs as well as clutches, showcasing everything a fashionista
could possibly dream of. Ranging from abstract to symmetry, to large statement
pieces, which seem to break effortlessly into flowing designs, the colour palette is an intriguing mix – from neon bold colours such as orange and pink to more subdued, ethereal
midnight blues. Amidst the stones, cleverly used sleek feathers and sequin
work, help add a funky edge, while gold chords elevate the modern poised appeal
of ‘Flow’.
|
. |
Felix aspires to establish a fashion
institute and impart quality education in design, in the near future.
Yes, accessories is fundamental to apparel business, in order to represent a significant % in sales. The " line extension " concept became a new kind of business , and in my opinion, is getting bigger.
ReplyDeletePosted by PAULO KAO CHIN LAN on Linkedin Group: Fashion Traders in response to IAnD's discussion thread How significant are accessories in fashion today?