Western wear designer Megha Garg Poddar is back with her new collection, called Ode To Joy — a series of evening dresses in sober colours, which can be worn to both formal and semi-formal occasions.
She uses crepes, flat chiffons, organzas, satins, nets and lycra to create dresses that are subtle, smart and sleek. You will find plenty of asymmetrical cuts and clean lines and patterns in her garments, which drape well, and also create a visual illusion. “It’s the experiences that I have gathered over the years, watching or reading something that translates into my collection,” says Megha, the 31-year old designer.
The most striking feature of her garments is the visual illusions that they create — with lines, patterns and sequin work. “Quilting of sequins between the fabrics is a unique touch, which is our signature style. We first stitch the pieces in line format, and then fill each and every sequin inside the lines, by hand. The quilting gives the sequins a subtle effect,” she adds.
You will find simple, but bold, elegant shades in black, grey or maroon, which are accentuated with textured sequins in geometric patterns on the yoke, shoulders or bosom. Tessellation with hexagonal net pockets, with jumping sequins, is another forte of her clothes line. “It is the universe or cosmos and infinity, which inspires me to make the patterns. In fact, one of my previous collections was called Starry Nights, where I used black crystal beads around the yoke of a top, to resemble the stars in a galaxy,” says the young designer, who enjoyed creative pattern-making at college.
Among the blacks and the greys, you will find a crushed satin halter-top gown in mixed gold and silver, which is made of a rectangular fabric, twisted around the body, and kept together with the help of two knots (one at the neck and another around the waist). It looks charming and elegant, and perfect fit for a cocktail party. There is a kurta-dress too; a silhouette created by stitching two rectangular pieces together, which can make anyone look taller and slimmer.
She also received the honour of A Design Award for inventing the kurta dress with her collection, Urban Army, in 2018. But it all started when she was on the path of her new found faith, Nichiren Buddhism, while she was still a student. “Things started falling into place when I came back to Kolkata in 2011, and launched my label at the Lakmé India Fashion Week, the very next year,” says the mother of a two-year old, with a smile.
“It gave me the strength to juggle marriage, motherhood and work all together,” she adds. So what’s next for the designer, who has already produced 20 collections in a span of seven years? “We have worked with drape saris, but I want to come out with my own understanding of the lehenga, in about two months time from now,” she reveals.