A BLEND OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY

“What a lovely way to interpret mythology through fashion, madam!”

- Sreelekha Chatterjee

Thomas, a potential French investor, seated next to me in the audience says, as my very first model Kasturi walks with her chin held high on the fashion runway flooded with powerful track light illumination and trendy, instrumental pop music.

“Themed around the weapons of Indian goddesses that enhance our bold prints, as we mainly design dresses for today’s independent women, bearing a testament to their prowess and belief in inner consciousness! It’s the new visual language rooted in mythology, enthused from the spirit of fighting evil and triumphing against all odds.” I elaborate while looking at the train of girls spin onto the catwalk, flaunting strong-, brightcolored—red, orange, and yellow—cool, light, and comfy cotton, linen, rayon, chiffon outfits designed by me—with clean cuts of geometrical patterns of concentric triangles, pyramids, diamonds, hibiscus petal shapes in the stylish silhouettes.

Thomas is visiting India for the first time, looking for a possible collaboration with a fashion house to further his business of garments. He has an air of crotchety perfectionism about him—dressed in an immaculate grey suit, hair styled neatly with a setting gel, constantly adjusting his tie, while keeping a tab on his phone—that has forced me to tread on eggshells in an attempt to impress him about my fashion brand.

“It’s the trishulor a trident with three sharp edges, symbolizing a harmonious balance within the human soul. The design has been digitally printed or machine printed on cotton, viscose, polyester, polyamide, and silk kurtis or blouses, worn with leggings or loose-fitting pajamas. Our customers have vouched for the color fastness.” I point toward the first model in the line.