Dupion silks, organzas and swathes of georgette and crepe in a riot of colours welcome you to their studio. Clearly, it’s a busy time for Bengaluru-based designers Kavya Bagamane and Pooja Prasad Raghavendra as they’ve set their sights on putting up nothing short of a spectacle at the Bangalore Fashion Week on August 5. With designs to remind you of why a newer brood of Sandalwood stars like Shraddha Srinath, Sruthi Hariharan and Nabha Natesh are sashaying around in their creations, they sit down to share their journey with us.
At first glance, it’s not hard to note that the 34-year-old women embrace different styles and own it. “We have identified our body types and learnt to dress in a way that flatters us. We believe that there’s no point in following trends blindly if they don’t compliment you,” says Pooja, a master’s graduate of business administration from Ohio University, who acts as the business brain. Having spent a lot of time together since college, the two friends got into business of creating a new label. Their aesthetic stands to honour their inspirations – Cristobal Balenciaga, Jeanne Lanvin and Christian Dior. “Their mastery in cutting and draping enthuse us! We try to bring about a similar uniqueness through the cuts and the structure of our garments. Albeit with a smattering of embroidery,” says Kavya, who believes that her summer vacations spent practicing hand embroidery and getting busy on her mother’s sewing machine is now paying off.
Art, architecture, nature and the environment plays a huge role in their couture creations. As literature buffs, their A-line wonders and Cinderella-esque gowns for the ramp is inspired by O Henry’s short story The Last Leaf. “It’s a story about how we can influence our bodies though our minds. How positivity plays such an important role in our lives,” says Kavya speaking of their colour-blocked wonders. Taking a leaf from O Henry’s book (quite literally), the leaf in his story wafts across their designs in intricate threads too. Now, for two friends who beat all odds to start their own line, every day doing what they love is a celebration. “We want to participate at national fashion weeks and someday see it be recognised internationally too,” says Pooja, already conquering couture, one stitch at a time.
