Welcome spring into your wardrobe, with Gul 2019, the new spring-summer collection from Kaia, the Delhi-based label by Garima and Pankaj. As the name suggests, the Indo-Western garments from this collection will remind you of bright blossoming meadows and the breezy landscapes of Kashmir, Lucknow or Ludhiana. The long, flowy kurtas with rose prints, intricate zardozi work, and subtle sequin embellishments, will not just lure those who like ethnic wear, but also the ones who swear by Western cuts and drapes.
It’s no surprise when Garima Dhingra, the designer heading the two-year old label, tells us that the collection was inspired from her recent trip to Kashmir. “I chose dusky colours like rose dust, lavender, emerald green, sapphire blue and even a rose print (recreated from scanned images of the pictures we took), as I wanted to bring the essence of Kashmir into my clothes,” says the 29-year-old fashion designer, Garima. Her family in Delhi has been in the business of producing ethnic clothes for the past 35 years.
“We usually work with chanderi, but this time, we have experimented with georgette and crepes, and a lot of IndoWestern cuts. We have also come out with a drape sari this time, with stitched pleats and a side zip,” she adds.
Other than the rose prints on lehengas, saris and short kurtas, which you will find in different shades of peach, lavender or just a plain white background, there are anarkali kurtas in bright solid colours, with delicate detailing on the neck, waist and sleeves. “We specialise in kurtas, but our dupattas stand out too. We make specially hand-embroidered dupattas in organza or net, which are usually the most eye-catching part of the attire,” informs the young couturier.
A long kurta in salmon pink chanderi, with balloon sleeves and side pleats and matching palazzo pants, stands out for its simplicity, and can be worn to any formal occasions in the day. The dupatta in light green organza, adds colour to the otherwise monochrome outfit. A sleeveless lavender short kurta with rose prints is a perfect example of the East-meets-West paradigm. While the deep neckline and bare arms add to the sensuous appeal of the garment, the fitted gharara pants with mukaish work and matching dupatta retain the demureness of ethnic wear. “Our silhouettes work for people between the age group 25 and 40, as we love to experiment with bright, fun colours,” says Garima, who also closely follows noted Pakistani designers like Faraz Manan and Zara Shahjahan.
Another georgette anarkali in blue sapphire, with asymmetrical, tapering sleeves and net work around the yoke and matching churidar in a lycra net base, looks elegant and graceful. But the designer doesn’t believe in following trends. “I like to make clothes that are timeless and can be worn all the year round, because once the trend fades, people don’t want to repeat their garments, or come back to you,” says Garima.
Starts at Rs 15,000