Haute gets hotter

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Think bridal shopping and the first city that comes to mind is Delhi. From the rickety shaadiwala shops in Chandni Chowk to the glitzy designer stores in swanky malls — the city has much to offer when it comes to bridal trousseau.

There’s a boom in the luxe factor in the bridal market, and several bridal exhibitions and fashion weeks take place throughout the monsoon. It’s a mélange of trends, a sea of styles, a host of designers catering to the market. For designers, it’s a challenge to stand out from the multitude with their signature style.
In the upcoming Aamby Valley Indian Bridal Fashion Week (AVIBFW), the participating designers are some of the most celebrated names in Indian bridal segment. Designer Raghavendra Rathore, who is known for his sophisticated menswear and is a participant at this event, says, “Each designer has a signature style, which helps the clients identify the genre that works best for them. My look is in the classic space — it is directed not at the ethnic embroidered aesthetics but also has a global appeal. Our attempt is to recreate the Indo-Western look, which is not necessarily bridal but couture.”
Designer Tarun Tahiliani, who is known for his elaborate bridal creations, says, “I focus on creating couture by caring for detail and our distinctive Indian crafts like antique gilt zardozi, aari work, trellising, chikankari, shadow work onto superb shaping — the perfect eastern technique on western fit, designed for the time-honoured wedding ritual.”
Veteran designer Adarsh Gill feels her signature style is inimitable. She says, “My signature style includes prolific use of rare Swarovski crystals, Chantilly lace and sequins. Not all designers can do justice with such delicate fabrics and ancient techniques. I have tried to explore the glamorous yet extremely wearable aspect of bridal wear.”
Designer couple Falguni and Shane’s designs reflect their philosophy — life’s too short to blend in, and this is conveyed through their signature style that includes feathers, sequins and prints. The duo informs, “We feel there is always scope to incorporate your signature style into any piece of garment. As designers we have the creative power and the sky is the limit. For example, we would do an anarkali with feathers at the bottom which is one of our signature styles.”
On the other hand, designer Jyotsna Tiwari says that not just in India but universally the basic look of bridal wear remains similar year after year. She says, “As a designer it becomes our responsibility to bring new looks and dimensions within the same.”