Reinventing the summer bride

Indian spring-summer is the best time to flaunt soothing shades of pastels and delicate ensembles made of diaphanous tissue, kora, and organza fabrics. For Kolkata-based designer Adarsh Makharia, who recently opened a sprawling 3000 sq ft store in the posh Ambawatta Complex in Mehrauli, the reason to set base in the fashion capital is to offer a fresh take on sophistication for summer brides.

Makharia, who specializes in using Indian arts and crafts, used techniques such as applique and traditional craftsmanship like aari-taari, zari, and knotwork in his latest line of wedding attire. Speaking about his journey from Kolkata to Delhi, he shares: “The year 2013 was the breakthrough year; since then we never looked back. Building a repertoire of clientele transcending from Bollywood into the international circuit, we believe that everyone is special. Our clients have helped us shape into a known brand with time. We have been collaborating with many famous personalities like Gauri Khan, Parineeti Chopra, Shraddha Kapoor, and Hina Khan, to name a few, and will continue to do so in the coming years. Also with the rise in sustainable fashion, we want to focus on utilising the residual by collaborating with artisans and clientele to bring the concept of complete sustainability into life.”

His seven-year-old brand and its SS20 line received a warm welcome from Delhi socialites, who couldn’t stop raving about his opulent garments in vivid colours like sepia rose, frost blue, taupe lemon, scarlet, and amber. “The line is inspired by the art of gold silk weaving of the orient. Intricate 3D patterns are woven with gold and multi-coloured threads to create heirloom pieces,” Makharia explains about his collection, adding, “My target audience is a woman who values her Indian roots and cherishes her heritage. The collection starts at Rs 35,000 onwards and is available from our flagship stores and our partnered multi-designer stores like Aza and Carma.”

While the designer hopes to expand his brand to other locations in India, he has a connection with Delhi. “I had once visited Mehrauli for a solo show and fell in love with the ambience of the place. There was no plan to open a store there, but when the opportunity arose, I didn’t let it go. I took it up as a challenge to take the label further. I feel it is healthy that there are other designer stores around; this enables us to show to the clientele what makes us unique,” he sums up.