Divya Khosla In A Stunning New Avatar!

 Striking all the right chords when it comes to structured, feminine and most importantly, wearable couture, Rashi Kapoor began her journey as a fashion designer with the launch of her eponymous label in 2011. Carving a niche for herself with her signature bodices and modern silhouettes in a market dominated by over-the-top bridal wear, she stands out with her rich, yet easy-to-wear designs. Here, she dresses her muse, Divya Khosla Kumar, and offers us a peek into things to come.

Photograph by: Anai Barucha

TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY OF BECOMING A FASHION DESIGNER.

After a course in womenswear from London College of Fashion, I set up a small exhibition in Kolkata which garnered a lot of positive response leading me to pursue design seriously. About five years back, I started my label designing mostly festive wear and trousseau and dabbled in bridal and couture. Once it took off, I decided to expand my couture line and channelled my creative energies likewise.

DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN AESTHETIC. IS THERE A WOMAN YOU HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU DESIGN YOUR CLOTHES?

I like experimenting with construction and fabrics in my clothing. My strength lies in surface design and I play a lot with shapes, which is now very prominent in my work. I give painstaking attention to detail and stress on the importance of the perfect fit and finish. I design for a woman who is independant, effervescent, and comfortable in her own skin. My appreciation of traditional clothing coupled with my love for breezy, easy-to-wear fabrics is synchronal with the new-age bride. How do you tie your contemporary aesthetics with the indian bridal market? When it comes to brides, I feel like people in India are open to expermentation and on the lookout for novel ensembles. I decided to do a spin on traditional bridal wear by infusing it with modern textiles, construction, and a lot of intricate embroidery. I want to give my audience something exciting and the constant innovation has paid off with brides accepting and resonating with my designs.

IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR SILHOUETTE OR PRINT THAT YOU KEEP GOING BACK TO TIME AND AGAIN?

Taking inspiration from nature, my clothes have a certain inclination towards floral prints. It wasn’t a conscious decision I made but, as the years progressed, I realised that I keep going back to things related to nature. The smell of the fresh air, being surrounded by greenery or the sound of the ocean evokes a sense of wonder and imagination. Working amongst a myriad of textures, colours, and the picturesque beauty of nature has brought ingenuinity to my work.

WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON? IS THERE SOMEONE WHO YOU FEEL HAS IMPECCABLE TASTE AND STYLE?

I think Meryl Streep wholly embodies the kind of woman I would like to dress. I love her sense of style and the way she carries herself with wit and grace makes her such a woman in all senses.

WHAT IS YOUR FORECAST FOR BRIDAL TRENDS IN THE FUTURE?

Also are there any tips you would like to offer brides? Brides today are straying away from traditionally heavy pieces and are in favour of more relaxed ensembles. Indian fashion doesn’t necessarily need to be heavily embellished or overwhelming in nature. With an increase in destination weddings, brides are opting for clothing which goes with the environment. As designers, we are dressing brides to have fun on their special day, so it’s important to take the focus away from heaviness and a large price tag to create clothes a bride a can enjoy. My advice for brides would be to make memories at their wedding rather than worrying about looking good. what makes divya khosla kumar the perfect muse? Divya is a very well-rounded person in terms of her sense of style. She is confident, independant, and carries herself with great elegance and poise, and that I feel reverberates with my clothing. She makes the designer feel comfortable and carries the clothes with a lot of oomph! She kind of gets into character, and justifies the whole look and feel of my designs. Her humility makes working with her a very pleasant experience. So what’s next for rashi kapoor? I see my brand expanding a lot in the future. A store launch in Kolkata is in the pipeline. Since I started here, the brand is very well-established in the city, which would give us an edge once we set up our flagship store. However, I do want to shift base to Mumbai, as the city is always bustling and full of life. Also, it is important when fashion is concerned and we can reach out to a wider audience. I am currently retailing out of a number of multi-designer stores but I look forward to starting something independently. With the onset of the new season, I’m constantly trying to create versatile pieces and come up with out-of-the-box ideas for my collection. My design philosophy is multi-faceted and each layer stands out with its distinctive modern twist. I want to create beautiful couture pieces without compromising on comfort and wearability.

Photograph by: Anai Barucha