The collection responds through the language of couture to the work of the studio’s artists and creative team. Many of their ideas begin with two-dimensional materials that are transformed through knotting, pleating and moulding into three-dimensional forms. The art of couture follows a similar shift. Fabric is given sculptural form that becomes more visible when worn. Nandini Soni takes this connection as a starting point for the collection by exploring the physical gestures of hand-pleating, knotting and draping.
The creative team’s connection with Indian art and culture informs the collection. The peacock and other elements of the Indian landscape are interpreted through brightly coloured floral and beaded embellishments. Nandini Soni’s research led her to focus on Indian techniques and the 18th-century tradition of chintz. These finely woven cotton fabrics were traditionally hand-painted or block-printed and had a lasting impact on European decorative arts. Chintz-inspired prints and traditional Indian details appear across the collection.
The Indian landscape prompts a new line of inquiry for Nandini Studio’s approach to couture through the idea of contrasting environments. Rich colours and detailed embellishments are placed alongside light fabrics and structured forms. The floral elements of the collection as well as its colours and architectural shapes reflect these contrasting influences.
