Here's how 22-year-old Chennai designer Shruti Agarwal is redefining cottons with her designs

This week is about stripes and you can choose from a striped button down maxi dress, a kurti with crochet embellished sleeves or even an uber-casual striped flared top — the options are aplenty!  
Label Shruti Agarwal
Label Shruti Agarwal

All of 22 years old, and city-based designer Shruti Agarwal has already launched her own label named Label Shruti Agarwal. The easy-going, chic wear brand has a mix of maxis, pants, palazzos, peplum tops and simple everyday wear. Instead of a collection, the designer launches silhouettes in different patterns every week. This week is about stripes and you can choose from a striped button down maxi dress, a kurti with crochet embellished sleeves or even an uber-casual striped flared top — the options are aplenty!  


Keeping it simple 
“We have been trying to make our bodies fit the clothes, when in reality, we should be making the clothes fit our bodies,” says Shruti, who works out of her studio apartment in Purasawalkam.  “This has inspired me to look back where until the early-1900s there were no ready-to-wear clothes available, and all garments were made by hand.” After completing her fashion designing course from FIDA, she decided to slowly start on her own.  Shruti made sure her pieces define simplicity and comfort. Even when it came to bold and vibrant colours from her Indo-Western wear, she made sure the silhouettes remained simple and elegant.

Dhotisuits
Dhotisuits

As you walk into her work space, you notice about 25 pieces on display some of which are all stitched and ready to be bought. Apart from custom-made pieces, the label launches various styles after brainstorming trends for that season. “Post that, I work on the design process which includes deciding on the colour, silhouette, fabric and style,” says Shruti adding that every fabric is sourced and handpicked by her. Scroll through her Instagram (@labelshrutiagarwal) and you’ll find a selection of easy breezy trouser pants, flared tops, maxis with embroidered patch pockets, palazzos, culottes and jumpsuits. 


Stripes and spots
Notice the colours she uses and you’ll see she goes for a lot of monochromes and pastels. “We are experimenting with bright, bold and vibrant colours as well especially for our ethnic pieces,” says Shruti. As far as fabrics are concerned, the young designer uses cotton primarily which she feels is not just simple, but definitive as well. With 50-60 ready pieces so far since her launch in June 2018, she works with a lot of A-line silhouettes, empire, trapeze, fits and flares. While she is busy with taking Raksha Bandhan orders for now, she is also coming up with a customised statement jewellery line soon.  


Starting at `600.
Available online.
 

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