‘Women spend unabashedly on their dream wardrobe’ Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani who opens India Bridal Week on weddings, fashion and future plans

‘Women spend unabashedly on their dream wardrobe’

Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani who opens India Bridal Week on weddings, fashion and future plans

Known for his couture ensembles, Delhi-based designer Tarun Tahiliani will display his creations in the city tomorrow at the India Bridal Fashion week. Tarun, whose sets are given just as importance as his designs, promises this show will be no different. “The collection is styled in the raw sensual glamour of the twenties, with whimsical motifs and sensational colours. We try to ensure that our clothes are the stars of the evening and people can actually feel the impact of the outfit in its finest glory. This year we are working with a South African stylist and collaborating with an installation artist for something fantastical on set,” he assures. Vijay Singh, Founder and Chairman of Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week adds, “Tarun is one of the best names in the bridal couture and he was the obvious choice to be the opening designer.” Talking about the changing Indian bride, the designer feels there’s a shift from the traditional lehenga choli to the more constructed, key hole jackets and corsets coupled with the lehenga. “The ideal trousseau is heavy in delicate threadwork, but light in weight. The new age bride doesn’t want anything too heavy as she wants to dance all night,” he adds. While there is a slight economic slowdown, Tarun feels this hasn’t affected the bridal market. “In India, we are best known for our festivity and weddings epitomise the same. Women spend unabashedly on their dream wardrobe and why not? Every bride wants to look exceptionally beautiful on her big day. Bridal couture is still the mainstay in Indian fashion, but the market for prêt is growing too,” he says. Having been in this field for many years, unlike his contemporaries, the designer isn’t ready to write a book yet. He says he may pen a fashion archive of his design studio for pedagogic reasons, but not an autobiography. Though he’s known for his designs, it’s interiors that he’s equally passionate about. “ I have always loved interior design and wanted to be an architect. I started in this field with just designing my stores and now have done a few hotels, suites, homes...I’m currently working on a hotel in Goa which will be themed on the Greek island of Santorini. Aside from this, I’m working with a French fragrance house to develop our own perfume,” he says excitedly.