Motif that moves

Gurvinder Singh

Doves and parrots flying into a new horizon are part of the latest collection of celebrated designer Nitin Bal Chauhan. He showcased the designs during Wedding Asia exhibition.

Talking about his designs, Nitin says a lot of detailing goes into his designs. “My designs might look simple at the first glance, but when you look closely, it is bound to bowl you over, as I am very meticulous at each stage of designing and construction of the garments,” he says.

The designs he creates are not just for design sake, but there is a deeper message underneath. The designer, for instance, would not add flowers just like that, but introduced ‘cubism’, Picasso’s favourite painting technique, to present a flower from different angles, making the design elegant and sophisticated. In others, he has made the traditional ‘dabka’ work attain a new meaning with geometric, chain-like design that look elegant and has an ‘international’ feel.

Along with his attention to detail, focus on creativity has been seeing Nitin win right from the campus days at NIFT, to wining the Best Designer Collection Award, and the best debut at Lakme Fashion Week. He also won the British Design Council award. He is the only Indian designer to participate in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Nitin wears many ‘design’ hats. Apart from his brand, he has a men’s only western-wear brand, while another brand of wacky out-of-the-box designer brand named Bhootsawar. Hailing from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, he has worked extensively for reviving the traditional craft and showcase these on international platforms.

His eye for aesthetics transcends fields, as the short film ‘Lost or Found’, won him the best cinematography award at New York Film Festival, apart from appreciation at Asian Festival of First Films as well.