AROUND THE WORLD

MAYUKH MAJUMDAR CHATS WITH DESIGNER DHRUV KAPOOR, WHO RECENTLY WAS FETED FOR HIS CREATIONS IN MILAN

- MAYUKH MAJUMDAR

Dhruv Kapoor may have launched his brand in New Delhi but the designer has taken it global time and again, one of the few Indian designers who has managed to find success in India and abroad. What helps is that Dhruv Kapoor's eponymous label strikes true with the people of today. It's a label that makes people across genders feel comfortable and sharp. For the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Delhi graduate, the world is his oyster and he's just begun to enjoy his share. Excerpts from our interview...

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN MENSWEAR CHANGE OVER THE YEARS? ARE MEN LEAVING BEHIND TRADITIONALIST IDEAS FOR MODERNITY?

"Tradition” is something we grow up with... I don't think one can possibly leave it behind, but it does get filtered with takes from contemporary culture. I feel men are personalising their traditional approach by mixing various social elements and their personality. It is exciting to see them experiment and personalise their wardrobe, defying public opinion or social norms. It's a new space for us all, where societal pressure or restraints are kept aside, and people are free to express themselves as they desire.

"TWISTED MODERNITY" COMES UP A LOT DURING REVIEWS ABOUT YOUR LABEL AND ALSO IN YOUR INTERVIEWS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?

I find it exciting to give a different point of view, "Why Not?" is our key approach. From odd pairings to bizarre colour combinations, proportions or simply mixing strange elements together results in a refreshing take on contemporary culture and our interactions with the same. The combination of "past-future" respects tradition but tweaks it and reapproaches it in a format fit for today.

I feel men are personalising their traditional approach by mixing various social elements and their personality