It’s really that feeling of confidence, comfort with style, and empowerment that I tried to capture in this collection. This is not to say that other clothes cannot make the wearer feel the same way, but rather that I wanted to translate the way I felt into a collection that works well for women in Chennai.
I didn’t want to just modify measurements from men’s clothes to work for women’s bodies because I think that very often Indian women’s aversion to formal “western wear” is that the shirts and trousers seem too boring or not figure flattering compared to Indo-western or Indian clothing. I also didn’t want the collection to be too serious- at least not in the way formal men’s suits come across. This collection is inspired by menswear, but with several cuts that make the clothes work for Indian women’s figures and with details that give them a different avatar.
Work should be fun (in an ideal world!) and I wanted a nice balance between serious and humorous for the photoshoot. Experimenting with different angles was sheer genius on the photographer’s part, and once the model understood what I was looking for, she assumed the role perfectly.
Textured Tuxedo paired with Definition.
Textured Tuxedo again and on the right, Razor Edge with Wide Hem Trouser.
Wide Hem Trouser with Pleated Camisole (left) and Razor Edge with Wide Hem Trouser (right).To see the entire collection, go to the Spring 2011 Collections page.
6 comments:
Anaka,
This is awesome. I had posted some time ago on your website about the need for quality professional clothing....and hey presto! here it is.
About empowerment of women - you are absolutely right. Women in India - even today - have so little agency over their lives. As a senior woman in the corporate world who is passionate about promoting qualified women, I have been asked over and over about why I am "favoring" women over men. To which my reply is, so few women even get onto the playing field - they are killed in uetro, starved as children, given a poorer education, stopped from taking challenging jobs, married off...so when I see one who actually made it, and is qualifed, what's wrong with giving her a little extra mentoring to help her make the grade?
More than anything, women need POWER. Power, something we shy away from, actually helps us make a better world.
i am not sure if these pants would make me or any one feel good wearing it in the corporate world.
reason: linen tends to loosen its fibre when washed. so pleated linens, flared bottoms seem to looks more like pyjamas - all these are good for casual wear.
the green stripes on the blouse definitely goes in the circus ring.
sleeves - what's going on here - they are cut right in half in the middle of the hand ! it is not very comfortable.
your fabrics are amazing and so do the photographs
and the advertising - great PR. great connections in the media and a business family i presume - all the makings of a business woman But the design suffers. Who is the designer ? - Just curious.
Anonymous #1: How fantastic that you are in a position to mentor women and help them acquire power in the corporate world!
Anonymous #2: Wow, what a way to bring me down to earth! I see your point about linen at a workplace- I'm partial to linen and I'm fine with the way it creases (that's part of the personality of linen). But we do have cotton and cotton-lycra and linen-cotton trousers as part of the collection as well.I can't add a polyester blend because that would go against the whole philosophy of the brand.
I won't address your remarks on the Textured Tuxedo shirt because that's a question of taste- and we obviously have very different taste. But I will say that I own that shirt myself and sleeves that come upto the elbow are not at all uncomfortable. Try them out sometime!
I am the designer- I wonder how that wasn't obvious in the post since I talked about my inspiration. You can go to the "About" page to read more about me. I don't have any connections in the media, I don't come from a "business family", nor do I hire a PR agency, but I'm happy to take any compliments that come my way and use that energy to carry me forward :) Thank you for that, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Anaka,
Nice post - I always enjoy knowing more about what inspires each of the styles you bring out. I also admire your response to Anonymous#2. Maybe I love BrassTacks too much and hence rising to its defence. I do think negative feedback is very important for one to grow but what I can't stand is someone using a public forum to say whatever they want - and not even needing to own up to it. I really don't know if the writer is a man or a woman. If it s a woman - Ma'm, If you haven't tried BT clothes, I hope you will soon find some time to try them out. It is one of the few places in Chennai where customers are treated so well and feedback taken well.
got here thru beks blog.... congratulations on the lovely clothes you make, this is going to be my must visit store when i am in madras next.... goodluck...btw, i am amazed by the grace with which you answered those scathing comments here...kudos... strength of character at show both sides!
I am loving your wide hem trouser.. I wish I had known abt ur store when I was in chennai in Jan! Nice cuts and fits from the look of it...
Sharada Guru
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