Reaching New Terrains

A prominent name in designer menswear, Kunal Rawal has a lot up his sleeve. With a sprawling space in Mumbai’s iconic Rhythm House, a flagship store in Juhu and now a new standalone in Delhi’s DLF Emporio, the designer is planning for global domination - one stitch at a time.

- Aastika Marwaha

For menswear maverick Kunal Rawal, at the core of it all is product design. As he best puts it, he’s out there to strike a balance between finding his voice and creating utility for the garments he makes under his label. For the last few years, he’s managed to create a niche for contemporary Indian wear, something only a handful of designers have been able to do. His clothes are functional, comfortable, speak to the new age consumer and enjoy a vast celebrity clientele. Taking it to the next step, Rawal is looking to expand his base to new cities to tap into the menswear market that needs a Kunal Rawal upgrade.

Who according to you, is the Kunal Rawal man today?

He’s somebody who appreciates functional details, enjoys luxury and is a multi-tasker. He’s sure about what he wants to do with his style. Whether it’s somebody who dresses a bit bold, likes understated or enjoys fun cuts and the way you wear it. He is also someone who believes in customising what he wears. So that according to me, today, is the Kunal Rawal man.

What changes can Indian men make to their wardrobe, according to you?

I think men today have far more of a contemporary head-space and they are looking at more transitional pieces. You know the parts that you could build, wear, for occasion wear, stuff that you could repurpose for western wear and all kinds of events that you have. I think that transitional segment between your wardrobe of western wear and traditional occasion wear is something people are using more and are enjoying more. So, I think multipurpose pieces is something that should be done more of.

With the plan to scale up your business, are these changes something you want to look at while you set up more stores in future?