As we walk into designer Vivek Karunakaran’s flagship store on Rutland Gate, we notice that the store has two contrasting aspects to it. On the left you can find the colourful, dramatic and intense ethnic wear that you may have noticed on runways and fashion weeks, and on the right you have just blacks and whites. His new line called VK Essentials is essentially the designer’s attempt to bring a twist to a man or a woman’s wardrobe.
“I would think more than a collection, it’s called an idea,” he quickly corrects me when I ask about this brand new prêt collection. “When we launched this new line under Vivek Karunakaran last week, we wanted to create a product that was easy to wear, high on style with a great value for money. When we buy a designer shirt, it is almost always for an occasion so here’s a product that can be repeated and has an element of style.” Vivek plans to create one line every five months and says that there will be a story behind every line. “Here, the theme is ‘flawsome’. It is about celebrating ourselves with all our flaws, and how fabulous we are,” he explains adding he has stuck to just black and white, in one style and has made around 50 shirts keeping in mind confirmed orders. In the bigger picture, Vivek feels that they are doing what they can from the fashion and design fraternity to not add more to global warming, and contribute more to sustainable fashion.
Promoted as a unisex creation, Vivek adds that, “After a sari, I think a woman looks the sexiest in a white shirt.” Endorsed by actors Siddharth, Andrea Jeremiah, Anil Kapoor and singer Shankar Mahadevan, the shirt is a versatile piece that uses a fine cotton that is suggestive of poplin, with sleeves made of jersey fabric so that you can scrunch it up like a long sleeved T-shirt. “We also have a little patch on the shirt which gives it a stylish detail. And the ‘flawsome’ print on the shirt makes it more interesting.” As far as new work is concerned, Vivek is working on making the campaign stronger and want to make it pan India in the hope that more people will join the ‘flawsome’ tribe.
Priced at ` 2,800.
Available at Vivek Karunakaran, Rutland Gate.