On a journey to rediscover style

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In modern India style is not limited to metro cities any more. It has grown and flourished in almost all parts of the country in various forms. Some places have a subtle fashion culture, whereas others boast of in-your-face trends that are hard to miss. In Fox Traveller’s recent show Style and the City, three famous designers Rocky S, Rina Dhaka and Ashish Soni explore the untouched travel routes of the country and share their experience about the same.
Rocky S, who said he had a blast at the show, delved deep into the markets, streets and artisans’ workshops. He says, “It was an eye-opener for me. It was an exhilarating and most amazing shoot I have done so far. I loved all the cities I went to; each city inspired me with its art and culture. Creativity has no boundaries and that’s what intrigued me. My personal favourite always has been tie and dye and I loved the varieties and techniques they work upon to create such magnificent art pieces. I had to explore the markets of Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Ajmer, Jaipur and it was an extraordinary experience shooting and exploring the nooks and corners of the places where artisans create the masterpieces.”
The designer adds, “I think Jaipur was by far the best as I belong to Rajasthan and I am truly inspired by Rajasthani royalty and bandhni material. I also visited the City Palace where I met Princess Dia Kumari. She is gorgeous and the most graceful woman I have ever met. She also showed us some beautiful outfits; even what she wore at her own wedding.”
Rina Dhaka, who is known for her penchant for Indian fabrics and crafts, mentions that she had a great time exploring the streets of Delhi and Pushkar. She says, “In Pushkar I was amazed to see the way people dress up in day-to-day life. From jersey skirts to pyjama pants, one could see some of the coolest street styles in Pushkar. In Delhi, I went to explore the Chandni Chowk area, which is one of my favourite places as a designer. I was shocked to see replicas of latest pieces from all famous designers. Though it breaks my heart each time I see the exact copies of our designs, I noticed a very peculiar thing there — all the shopkeepers call all the ensembles ‘designer wear’ and they happily sell it for dirt cheap prices.”
For designer Ashish N. Soni, the show gave him a break from his daily studio-based fashion life, and he explored the unseen galis and bazaars of India. He says, “I found Benaras magical; its many facets were extremely interesting. In terms of craft I think the needle painting technique we discovered in Agra was my personal high point. All my celebrity clients were fun to shoot with and that was the fun component of the show. Each celebrity had his or her quirks, which were rather interesting.”