Kiran Rao hosted a preview of Akaaro’s AW15 collection via an exhibition entitled, ‘Dardpora’ – a collection of hand woven womens wear, emoting global values of elegance, intelligence and longevity, resonating hope, doubt, search and a long wait for loved ones. Visual references are drawn from Kashmir’s picturesque landscapes in the separates and draped pieces, outerwear in wools and metallic hues, with pashmina like cottons in blacks and blues, creating conflict with warm pop colours like pinks and greens. The concept of colour and material bridge traditional weave structures with the contemporary, forming a strong connect between the Weave and the Women, especially designed for an urban woman, in natural yarns like cotton, silk and tussar silk. Available at Rs.4,000/- onwards, at Amethyst entrance next to Corporation Bank, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai on November 26th, 2015.
The exhibition will continue until December 3rd, 2015.
‘Akaaro’ is a Sanskrit word which translates into “the opening alphabet”. Akaaro is committed to the life and longevity of Indian craftsmanship. Its ethos is rooted in the cross fertilisation between the fabric and the body, where one conforms with the other in a defining and unique aspect of their processes.Their aesthetic relates to the contemporary aesthetic of any international city. ‘Dardpora’ paradoxically means abode of pain and is inspired by the idea of sudden disappearance of people, things, events and the mystery around it.
Launched in 2007, the brand started with a line of handwoven sustainable scarves, exhibited at international design shows including the likes of Origin : The London Craft Fair & retailing through prestigious galleries and stores across England. Subsequently Akaaro matured in to a line of clothing with regular showings at India Fashion Week, with Spring Summer 2010. In the past, Akaaro has been presented at various international platforms like London Fashion Week, Capsule Paris, World Trade Boutique Hongkong and Blueprint Singapore. The store has a retail footprint in 30 stores across India and overseas.
The designer Gaurav Jai Gupta trained at Chelsea College of Art and Design London in Woven Textiles and National Institute of Fashion Technology Delhi in Fashion, He is a New Delhi based textiles and fashion designer. A finalist of Vogue India Fashion Fund 2013, he debuted in India in October 2010 showing Spring/Summer 2011 Women’s wear through a runway show at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week and was immediately dubbed as, “find of the week”, by leading national daily Hindustan Times.
His approach towards his work and commitment to reviving appreciation for contemporary Indian textiles, has earned him both critical acclaim and a list of high profile customers globally. His work looks at fine balance between craft and design and highlights the importance of handcrafting before machine, along with increasing the scope for contemporary Indian fashion internationally.
Gaurav was selected for the prestigious, “Shared Talent India” Project in 2009, for promoting Indian sustainable fashion, an initiative by Centre of Sustainable Fashion, London which was exhibited at London Fashion Week. And was also invited to co-curate and exhibit at London Calling in Tokyo, on the commemoration of 150 years of British and Japanese Friendship, the same was inaugurated by legendry designer Jimmy Choo.
Gaurav was commissioned by the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s London as a trend forecaster from Delhi in 2006 for PREVIEW and was also invited to showcase his AW2011 at ALCHEMY FESTIVAL in London in April 2011. He was awarded with, “Grazia Young Designer’s Award,” for textile innovation for his debut collection and represented India officially at the International Apparel Federation Designer Awards in Mexico, in October 2011 showing S/S2012 and won the Designer of the Year Award, for the most commercial collection.
With an element of progression and experimentation he collaborated with Swarvoski Elements for AW2012. Gaurav Jai Gupta s work is a new kind of juxtaposition of materials and techniques, developing path breaking body of work within the context of contemporary Indian fashion. He was declared as ‘Designer to Watch Out For’ in 2014 by Hindustan Times and launched the prestigious COOL WOOL COLLECTION in collaboration with WOOLMARK for RAYMONDS in India. Gaurav Jai Gupta has been nominated for two consecutive years 2014 & 2015 to represent India for the prestigious International Woolmark Prize
