I am my favourite designer: Varun

Mona

Designing is all he knows, and intends to do. India’s favourite couturier Varun Bahl minces no words as he shares how tough it is. “Like it or not, couture in India is restricted to weddings and to make lehenga choli in all those five shades each season is super tough,” puts Varun Bahl in black and white. But then what’s a designer if he could not breathe a new life into every collection.

His recent The Five-Petal Story weaves the flowery inspiration, and it being summer chanderi his go to fabric. “The ones we have done in 40 grams is comfortable for Indian summer,” he says. His mantra for summer fashion – go light, effortless and fuss-free. “Choose summer-friendly fabrics like chanderi, cotton, mulmul and linen. They look good and skin friendly too.”

While couture been his forte, with his Prêt Line, Varun has got designs on all of India. “The idea is to make it affordable to every aspiring woman, to sell in every city across the country.”

His has been one journey that he says he prepared well for. Before he presented his collection at international platform, way back in 2004 at Milan, he was thorough with his job. 

“I slogged for five to seven years, working for various celebrated designers, exploring import houses before I put out my designs for the world to see.”

His creations may find patrons across the globe, but it’s to Delhi he belongs, “Enjoy as you may by the end of the day, it only feels at home in your city, your house, your bed!”

Quiz him on his favourite designer, he pauses for a second, only to come up with his own name, “I am proud of all that I have made today,” he says. As for inspiration, “It was at a Rohit Bal show that I fell in love with designs, quite never got out of it actually, and Bal today is a close friend!”

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