FASHION HAS HAD a profound influence on Soumodeep Dutta’s life, who found his true calling in understated handloom fashion. This 30-year-old’s talent lies in giving handloom a contemporary twist. “I believe in the simplicity of handlooms. The basic wooden framework and the crossed over warp and weft signify life itself. The effort of the weaver in weaving the fabric, adds further value to it,” he states.
We learnt that it was while pursuing computer engineering that Soumodeep decided to become a designer. In fact, that decision eventually led him to the Lakme Fashion Week’s GenNext Designers showcase. What truly makes this NIFT graduate stand apart in terms of design aesthetics is his unwavering conviction that handlooms work for festive edits too.
“People usually feel that handlooms are shorn of glamour but I want to show them that handloom can be very Western, glamorous and very festive in mood. It’s equally gorgeous to wear a jamdani or silk muslin with kantha work at weddings. My clothes have a voice of their own that makes you stand out.” The designer draws inspiration from literature, music, art and all things spiritual. “I’m highly inspired by spirituality which is reflected in my designs as well,” adds the designer, who is now experimenting a lot with block prints.
Talking about the challenge of connecting with the needs of clients while staying true to your aesthetics, Soumodeep, whose work will be displayed at India Story this year, says, “Every day we face new challenges and find ways to overcome them. I think the biggest challenge is to merge the taste of clients with one’s own design aesthetics. It’s important to know your client’s tastes and requirements and then work your own design elements around them. So it’s always a continuous learning process for me and I thoroughly enjoy it.”