From the organic shapes in her oil paintings to her asymmetrical garments on the ramp, abstraction is integral to Payal Khandwala. Her sartorial language remains unique, discovers Saumya Sinha
Her approach to dressmaking involves an unfettered attention to detail and ‘simply a shift in canvas’ from painting, a passion that she has pursued since she was seven years old. The Parsons School of Design graduate emerged on the Indian fashion scene in 2012 with a distinct point of view, which soon struck a chord with designers, consumers and buyers. This watershed event arrived in Khandwala’s life when an opportunity to show at Lakmé Fashion Week arose, and in spite of being a full-time painter, she launched her label instinctively. Today, within a short span of four years, she has managed to carve a niche for herself by bringing a refreshing brand of clothing to the consumer.
Khandwala’s first stint with fashion began in the early ’90s — possibly the worst decade for fashion, in her opinion, but also the best time to make as many faux pas as possible. “I designed an outfit — if you could even call it that — for my school farewell party when I turned 16. It had everything I detest — shiny black satin, gathered net, puffy sleeves...but since it was such a disaster, luckily for me, the only way was up,” she admits. For anyone who is acquainted with her work, it is very easy to spot in the sea of sameness that dominates both fusion and traditional wear, because of her thoughtful approach. “I start with a point of inspiration — it could be anything: a carpet, a building or an artwork. I map out a colour story, explore new shapes, push old ideas further, develop textiles to support the new collection, design the accessories...I can almost always visualise the collection in my head,” she explains.
Denne historien er fra July 2016-utgaven av Verve.
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Denne historien er fra July 2016-utgaven av Verve.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Making Amends
This generation’s penchant for thoughtless consumption gets Madhu Jain roiled up, and she wonders if nature is getting its own back for our missteps…
Diamonds With Provenance
In keeping with the company’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility, Anisa Kamadoli Costa, chief sustainability officer at Tiffany & Co. and chairman and president at The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, enlightens Shirin Mehta on the efforts that make the jewellery giant an industry leader in transparency
SARTORIAL ECONOMICS
Sisters Tashi and Tara Mitra demonstrate to Akanksha Pandey how deviating from the mainstream can bend the way we think, live and dress
NOTES TO SELF
An anthropomorphized tiger’s perspective, a viscerally worded futuristic interpretation of loss, a critique of performative activism, a meta reflection on the earth’s crises. Told through different lenses, Janaki Lenin, Indrapramit Das, Keshava Guha and Roshan Ali’s stories — written exclusively for Verve — attempt to make sense of the fraught reality that we exist in today
The Eternal Optimist
As Generation X and xennials grapple with fully transitioning to conscious living, young millennials and Generation Z are leading the charge to reverse human-caused environmental damage. Sahar Mansoor, founder and CEO of the Bengaluru-based zero-waste social enterprise Bare Necessities, has a simple overarching philosophy: consume less and stay positive. Verve gets deeper into the mindset of the action-oriented earth advocate
Redemption SONGS
Indian music festivals have been demonstrating a refreshing sense of responsibility in terms of their ecological impact. Interacting with stakeholders who strive to make these large-scale events greener, Akhil Sood investigates the reasons behind the improved attitudes of audiences and the increase in corporate support.
earth hour
Crafted using nature’s elements, these dials draw inspiration from the many heterogeneous materials and hues around us.Verve turns its lens onto a mesmerising few
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Children are holding adults accountable for both the grim future they are facing and the toll this is taking on their mental health. Madhumita Bhattacharyya initiates conversations with families of young climate activists and observes the extent to which parenting has changed in the face of catastrophe
NATURAL JUSTICE
Most of us are only just waking up to the urgency of climatic action. When the stakes are so high, what can individual action solve? Mridula Mary Paul, an environmental policy expert, is proof of the tenacity needed to effect systemic change. It’s not glamorous, and the rewards are few and far between, but that doesn’t stop her from aiming big, finds Anandita Bhalerao
Along For The Ride
Navigating Indian streets as a woman is hard enough. But what is it like while riding a bicycle? Bengaluru-based Shreya Dasgupta, a regular cyclist, speaks to five urban women about the pros and cons of this increasingly popular means of transport.
