A business degree and love for fashion led Anushree Reddy to creating clothes with no formal training whatsoever. Minal Khona talks to the eclectic designer who recently showcased her collection” The Tantrum Bride” at LIFW this year.
Anushree Reddy wasn’t the quintessential fashion designer who came from the same school of thought as others. Armed with some chutzpah, grit and determination, this designer with no degree or diploma in fashion is a now a name to reckon with in Hyderabad. She recalls her initial years in this field. “I had no assistants and I did everything myself. From the sketches to sourcing the raw material like fabric, hooks, buttons, embellishments etc., I learnt every aspect of making a stylish garment.” That initial leg work has helped immensely as Anushree has expanded her business but knows what it takes to make a good outfit.
She was lucky to receive appreciation which converted to sales too. Her forte has been from the beginning, bridal wear and garments associated with a wedding. And Hyderabad, with its big, fat, opulent weddings was fertile ground for Anushree. “I design only Indian garments and besides the bridal outfit, I like creating clothes that can be worn by the bride’s sister and friends. I use a lot of net fabric, chiffon, silks etc. I have even used 15 metres of fabric for the ghera of a ghagra,” she reveals.
Anarkali kurtas with uneven hems, lehenga cholis, and surface embellishment are a hallmark of her designs. Her preferred colours are reds, rose pink, turmeric yellow, emerald green, gold, silver, dull copper and gold, etc. She doesn’t use black at all as it is hard to sell and most people don’t wear black at weddings or associated functions. She also makes sarees with embellished borders and lehenga sarees which are like wraparound garments without the fuss.
As for trends in bridal wear, this designer believes that other than a few cuts and colours that might rule for a season, it is hard to set a trend. “There are so many options and because a wedding is such a personal thing, I prefer to go with the client’s requirements and taste rather than something that is trendy but unsuitable for what my client wants.”
She does offer tips however to look good at all times. “A good pair of stilettos and a classy gold bag can see you through most wedding functions. Posture makes a big difference to how you carry yourself and if you are comfortable in what you are wearing and are able to carry it off well, everything looks better automatically.”
Given her passion for her work, and her focused approach of making only ethnic wear, one is sure that Anushree will be a front runner in the business for a long time.
