Nikhil Thampi, who just became the proud recipient of the Most Promising Designer Award given to him by the India Fashion Forum, will be showcasing his premium prêt line Quantum at the Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer today. Speaking of the line, Nikhil says, “It diverges from the norms of conventional prêtwear. Clean lines, unconventional silhouettes and metal details are the prime focus of my ensemble which will be accentuated by a stunning display of hair, makeup and nails by the Lakmé Salon backstage heroes. This is by far my most experimental showcase on the runway. I’ve made it a point to try my best in creating a new kind of runway presentation.”
The young designer boasts of a long list of celebrity clientele that includes the likes of Madhuri Dixit, Kajol to name a few. Ask him to pick a favourite and he says, “If I had to really pick, then Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone manage to don my label effortlessly. And in terms of reinterpretation, I think Aishwarya Rai is someone who is so elegant, powerful and flawlessly beautiful but who I wish would opt for a much stronger style that isn’t so safe.”
Nikhil finds his inspiration in India and its women. “Every powerful Indian woman is my muse and I love dressing up women with strong personalities.” His creations have always been underlined with drama. We ask him how he walks the line between ramp ready and wearability. “I create dramatic silhouettes because that excites me the most and although there are so many women that opt for the pieces exactly the way they are, I do streamline the drama for clients that love my designs but prefer to go for subtlety, still keeping my label’s aesthetic at the forefront,” he says.
