Inspired by the vibrant potpourri of various Indian cultures and its rich textile heritage, Sangeeta Kilachand Couture’s festive wear makes for an ideal choice to curate stand-out looks this Diwali. From bandhani suits and patolas sarees to vegetable-dyed gajjis and leheriyas with old brocade borders, designer Sangeeta Kilachand’s eponymous label houses all the ethnic essentials you need, to bring in the festive vibe this season.
Known to mix different weaves and create unique silhouettes, Sangeeta Kilachand’s sartorial pieces draws the perfect juxtaposition between old-world charm and a new age royalty. With its vibrant festive colour palette of reds, pinks, yellows and golds, and fabrics sourced from all across India, Sangeeta Kilachand’s eclectic collections is an excellent choice for the ones wanting to make heads turn this Diwali.
What sets the Sangeeta Kilachand Couture’s ethnic wear apart from the rest is the fact that each of her delicately hand-crafted pieces is widely researched and constructed, with a keen focus on uniqueness, silhouette and fabric. Speaking about her designs, Sangeeta Kilachand says, “My inspiration has always been the royal and rich hand embroidery and techniques of India, especially, the beautiful Marodi embroidery. We use regal fabrics like gajji silk, bandhani, georgette and brocade. Kali cuts are our expertise. The vibrant colours are made with natural vegetable dye and the silhouettes mainly include the royal looking abhas, ijars, lehengas, kotis and saris.”
The designer, whose creations speak of bygone era with a dash of modernity, is also a hot favourite among many B-town celebrities like Malaika Arora, Swara Bhaskar, Juhi Chawla, Jaya Bachchan, Vidya Balan among others.
Among the things that shines through Sangeeta Kilachand’s designs are local artisanal-inspired regal embroideries and techniques, which the label has been striving to foster and revive through each of its elegant pieces. “We have developed this craft through the extensive travel and a bubbling curiosity for ancient art, architecture and folk art. After dedicating years to researching the techniques and nuances of the textile and design industry in India, and collecting antique textiles for three decades, we create timeless pieces by focusing on unmatched quality and traditional craftsmanship,” says the couturier, who always had a keen interest in fashion since a young age.
Further elaborating on her passion, Sangeeta said, “I’ve been collecting old textiles and embroideries for the last 30 years, and India has a huge resource in terms of our heritage; which is even today quite untapped into. I hail from an affluent family of Patan, where Patan Patolas have been produced for several years. Quite often, when I wore them, people would ask me where I’d got them from — so I thought, why not revive the old embroideries of Kutch and Bhuj.”
Undoubtedly, Sangeeta Khilachand Couture’s strongest inspirations come from the Kutch Bhuj regions of Gujarat, and the marodi embroidery is quintessential to most of their designs. “The gold thread for the marodi embroidery is handmade by our karigars and dressed on luxurious fabrics, with rich hues from natural vegetable dyes. This special embroidery is showcased on our signature abhas, which is the traditional costume of the region of Kutch. We use vibrant contrasts and a combination of stitches from ancient times in tie and dye fabrics with intricate zari. The fabric used to create abhas were either the atlas of Gajji or fine Chinese silk,” says the designer.
So, this festive season opt for a Sangeeta Kilachand Couture’s outfit and soak in the luxury and decadence of Maharaja era, raw handicrafts, traditional treasures with contemporary design values and unmatched aesthetics that stand the test of time.
Sangeet Kilachand Couture’s ethnic collection starts at INR 45,000/- and can be purchased through their social media handles or online retailers likeonline retailers like Elahe, Pernia's Pop-Up Shop, and others.
Photos: Sangeeta Kilachand , Pahul Khurana