Legends Abode

A well-travelled and inspired storyteller, on his way to regain our lost art and culture through his design compositions.

- Chitman Kanwar Ahuja

Only a year long journey, has paved way for a young designer to showcase his creative finesse. Torani stands for handcrafted luxury inspired by the myriad tales of Indian mythology. The label is a potpourri of all things nostalgic that binds us with a memory that has been long forgotten. It is a quintessential search to revive old weaves, art and textiles and reimagine them for future generations.

We speak to Karan Torani, the design genius behind these ensembles, to dive into his method of crafting dream like silhouettes. Edited excerpts of our conversation…

How did the journey of fashion designing begin for you?

Post my schooling in Delhi, I always dreamt of joining FIT, New York, to pursue my education in design but our financial situation at home did not allow to me to make that choice. Luckily, I got a 100 per cent scholarship at Pearl Academy, New Delhi, and was saved, else choosing fashion as an education can be really expensive, I topped my batch for all four years when I was there.

Your designs are a reflection of the rich cultural heritage of India? How do you incorporate the traditional vibe in your collection?

My journey as an artist began when I was five and wanted to touch and feel fabrics that my amma collected from chanderi weavers. I was fascinated when she told me how her saris were handwoven and every thread was mercerised before they tied it on the loom. Years later my passion for the craft spiraled when I travelled through the country alone, finding stories and documenting them over the years. I took a break every year between my jobs to travel and find my true calling.