Sumona Parekh’s debut menswear line draws from the fantasy world of Parekh & Singh’s music

Ever since Parekh & Singh have made it to international billboard charts with their hit, I love you baby, I love you doll, the pair’s signature looks of solid coloured suits and jackets have become a trademark of sorts. The dream-pop duo whose Wes Andersonesque wardrobe was designed by Nischay Parekh’s mother, Sumona Parekh, launched her debut menswear collection early this month titled —Yuvraj, which features their signature suits as well. Inspired by the visual imagery of the Kolkata musicians’ music videos, vegetables, fruits and animals play pivotal roles as embroidery and hues in the design concept of the collection. “Nischay is my yuvraj (prince) and the collection is an ode to the unique bond between mothers and sons,” shares Sumona. 

The colour palette of their bright yellow and blue suits have been toned down, with the collection featuring turquoise and a lively banana yellow shade instead. “The pocket flaps on these banana yellow suits have pandas embroidered which capture the essence of Parekh & Singh’s music. Delving into their first album cover that featured storks, pandas and polar bears, the collection uses storks as aari embroidery on blue and red velvet prince coats. 

An amalgam of ethnic and Western silhouettes, the line offers suits, prince coats, sherwanis and jackets that can be teamed up with jodhpurs and Patiala salwars. “The long jackets are hand-embroidered with a panel of their much-loved animals and highlighted in contrasting silk threads,” says the 52-year-old, an Economics graduate from the University of Dallas. 

A thorough Kolkata-bred ‘girl’ who prefers to call the city by its former name of Calcutta, Sumona has made sure she has incorporated the Baluchori weave in the collection. “Baluchori is a weave done on silk. The fabric is Bishnupur silk and the work on it is called Baluchori. Baluchori has a 200-year-old history and with the use of the fabric, I am hoping to spotlight the embroiderers and not just the weavers.”

While apparel forms the cornerstone of Sumona’s design aesthetics, the designer also creates hand designed jewellery exclusively in silver. 

Rs 29,500 onwards. Details: sumonacouture.com