Oh, so you like being fashionable but hate ironing your clothes? There is a good news for you: ironing has become unfashionable. In an odd move, perhaps, for an industry that celebrates and emphasises on “looking perfect”, designers from all around are showing built-in creases for spring and summer. From crumpled cotton tops, un-pressed denims with frayed hems to crinkled peplums and rumpled skirts and dresses, you can now smoothly move away from ironing.
“The world of structured apparel narrates several possibilities and solutions; strict definitions (in clothing) are evolving to establish limitless creative boundaries. The fashion industry is forever innovating and adapting to changes and this is the reason why new statements like crushing, crumpling and creasing have come about,” shares designer Neeta Lulla.
“The fashion industry is known for its revolutionising quality. The technology today means there’s no need to wear anything crumpled. So many garments are virtually ‘non-iron’. They’re cotton and go through a pre-curing and dipping process. Yet, more and more designers are deliberately bringing out collections that have conscious creasing because the whole point of being fashionable is to embrace your true self and own up to your personal style. And this trend is an ode to all those people who like the crumpled look and are absolutely comfortable standing out from the crowd. I personally have been using and following the trend via Bhagalpur silk for a long time now,” avers designer Samant Chauhan.
For designer Farah Sanjana, it is all about the power. She says, “There is a certain superiority that goes alongside wearing creased clothes. It’s the power humblebrag of fashion — you are too busy to iron or your mind is on other less-aesthetic matters such as world peace.”
Explaining about how creases are achieved, designer Neha Khullar shares, “Creasing clothes depend upon the fabric. All looseness in the fabric play an important role in giving it as many folds and wrinkles as possible. The cloth should also have a ‘pull’ so it becomes easier to achieve folds.”
Generally fabrics like cotton, hemp and linen are ideal to achieve the look. According to designer Naisha Nagpal, “Rayon and polyester are a complete no-no whereas linen and silk works the best.”
If international runways are anything to go by, men can also embrace the crumple look. Designer Lalit Dalmia asserts, “The coolest way to wear a suit right now is all...dishevelled. But I am not saying ball up your business suits on the floor of your closet. There’s a new breed of suits, shirts and ties designed to be worn rumpled.
Designers these days are featuring suit that’s made with a fabric that’s a blend of cotton and metal to give the suit a unique texture. It crinkles but not like a shirt from your laundry bag wrinkles. If you are not keen on buying then you can achieve it at the comfort of your home as well. Just get a soft-shouldered spring suit in cotton, cotton and linen, or linen and wool. Wear it a lot. Hang it up but don’t treat it like the Shroud of Turin. Have it steamed instead of cleaned and pressed. Voila!”
