Tarun Tahiliani on his SS ’19 collection, the future of the sari and creating new fabrics 

DURING a trip to Egypt last summer, celebrated designer Tarun Tahiliani, found that there was a strong connection between Indian and Egyptian fashion — a fascination for draped silhouettes. And this formed the basis of his Spring Summer ’19 collection, India By The Nile. “I got a chance to sail down the Nile, and visit tombs and other heritage sites. The jewellery, hieroglyphics and paintings really spoke to me. So this collection captures the essence of Egypt while also staying true to Indian aesthetics,” begins the designer, who will be showcasing India by The Nile, along with his bridal and couture collection, In Elysium, at a fashion showcase hosted by Madras Round Table 1 at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai in aid of their ‘Keep Them In School’ campaign.

A good year
Having launched his 2,200 square-feet Kolkata store in a heritage property that was once the home of Rabindra-nath Tagore’s muse, Ladu Ranu Mukherjee, in January, a 4,500 square-feet boutique in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad in February, and creating looks for the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sara Ali Khan in the last three months, one could say that Tarun has had an eventful year so far. But the high stakes of glitz and glamour aside, education is something he feels strongly about and that’s what led him to be part of MRT1’s campaign. 

Speaking on the campaign, Tarun Reddy, Chairman of MRT1, says, “One of the unique facets of MRT1 is that we run on zero overheads, which means that 100 per cent of all donations and funds raised are always deployed purely towards the causes we support. We have a long history of doing exceptional public service work, and are looking forward to what we can do through the year to add value, comfort and security to the students at the five schools we are supporting through the ‘Keep Them In School’ campaign. We are excited to partner with Tarun Tahiliani, and are grateful he has chosen to use his talent to raise funds for our work.”

Keeping it light
The show will see 75 pieces being showcased and one of the highlights is his take on the Kanjeevaram. “It is India’s most loved fabric. But it does tend to be heavy. So we’ve given it a softer treatment and presented it in a new way to cater to the modern bride who would like to move about, dance and just be herself,” explains the designer, whose attempts at simplifying the sari has been ongoing for a while now. Another innovation from the designer is ‘liquid gold’ — jersey fabric printed with gold foil, which finds place in the SS19 collection. 

“We put the fabric through several rounds of development to achieve the ‘molten’ look,” he tells us.
Earlier this month, he unveiled three looks as part of Lotus Make-Up India Fashion Week’s grand finale — pre-draped saris that can you can slip into as easily as you would a gown. But what are his thoughts on preserving the diverse traditions and cultures that translate into numerous ways of draping and wearing the sari? “Of course it is important to treasure our traditional drapes. They need to be passed down to our children and our children’s children. But at the same time, one must keep pace with the times. Women today don’t always have the time to drape a sari and brides want to be able to have fun at their own weddings. That’s where the sari-gown makes things easier,” he shares.

Homing in
Tarun’s interest in fabrics and their drape is perhaps as strong as his love of architecture and interiors. In the past, he has designed villas in Goa, undertaken projects in Mumbai and even designed Telugu film star, Chiranjeevi’s 25,000 square-feet-home spanning four floors, through his home decor and architecture company, Ahilia Homes. But besides possessing a touch of opulence, he believes that homes need to be warm and welcoming. “My philosophy is to combine Indian craftsmanship with principles of light, air and technology to create homes that are to be lived in. These homes are not just for projections or as showpieces, but are filled with warmth and space to make memories with loved ones,” he tells us, adding, “In 2019, I think we will see a lot of excitement with Ahilia Homes, adding some stores and I’m personally getting involved in some art projects that will fuel our prints and other ideas for the fashion line.”

March 30, 8 pm. At ITC Grand Chola, Chennai