Bringing cultures together

The journey has been intriguing and quite volatile through the changing times and trends. Fashion comes out of passion and one needs to keep evolving and that's what Saroj Jalan has been doing.

She is known for fusing traditional techniques with a touch of contemporary silhouettes. "Every day and every minute teach something new and my life has been touched by so many brides going through so many emotions, their experiences, fears and inhibitions.

I don't have a daughter, who I have always longed for, so it was God's way of making me a mother of so many daughters. The journey has been very enriching both professionally and emotionally," shares the fashion designer specialising in bridal wear.

Her brand USP is mixed fabric. She says, "Mixing of the myriad of cultures, which our country is known for, and patterns in terms of colours, embroidery and fabrics, which I blend in my collections are the main highlights of my brand."

Saroj Jalan has stores in Hyderabad and Kolkata. And this year will be the third year that she will be participating at LFW. She will be showcasing her collection 'Banji' at 'Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Autumn/Winter 2019 Edition' scheduled to take place on August 25, 2019, in Mumbai.

About her collection, she says, "It exudes warmth and elegance along with capturing the romance of silhouette to exuberate the free-flowing spirit of my bride; the power to experiment, to have fun, be carefree, careless yet remain stylish.

My garments combine simplicity with quality; the timeless volumes are updated with contemporary high- quality materials and finishes. The tailored silhouettes play on fitted v/s flavoured volumes and fabrics giving a sharp and sculpted look to my bride."

Saroj's collection is constructed with an array of rich fabrics brought to life using crafts and embroideries from various parts of India. She explains, "I have included innovative pieces of textile like bandhej coupled with the Rajasthani dori work encapsulated in the beauty of Kashmiri Shikarga beholding the bold tenacity of appliqué and the serenity of the gulmarg tree patterns.

My artists have used stones, beads in our work to form layouts that challenge the idea of textiles being curetted. The line incorporates fluid paneled skirts, as an ode to our traditional lehangas.

The statement embroidered coats, with multi- materials and paneled belts. The idea is to create a gypsy modern look via elegantly layered tailored pieces with a fitted waistline and flared hems.

The ensembles thus comprise of corseted blouses, anarkalis, sarees, making it a go to couture wear for our bride. I also add dedicatedly handcrafted bags and leather accessories to the look to enhance the entire on the move attitude of my bride."

Saroj's style tips for brides-to-be

♦ Her style and comfort are most important so she should choose garments which would make her feel comfortable.

♦ The colours should be complacent with her skin tone. The patterns should not overpower the body frame.

♦ She should not be rigid on a colour, it's not necessary to buy a red, you might really make a beautiful earthy tone bride. Be open to experiment in terms of colours, fabrics and patterns.

♦ The blouse should look bold and sexy and not bulky.

♦ The waistline is really highlighted in the ethnic garments so if you are a short, you should concentrate on highlighting the torso and if you are tall with long legs you should wear the lehenga from the normal waist to accentuate the waistline.

♦ The fabric you choose should be according to the season you are getting married in. During summers, wear clothes in pastels and soft neutral shades with rose undertones. Softer colours will work better than vibrant colours. On the other hand, during winters wear clothes with blue or pink undertones or sharp colours like crimson red, navy blue, green etc.

♦ Lehgenga should be well-tailored. The fit of the garment should complement the body type. The garments should be easy to go as that's the mantra of the new age bride; they just want to have fun and enjoy the most and it would only happen if they are at ease in their skin. The garments should be light and fun but at the same time one can drape two or three dupattas to make it look dressier. One can also opt for an embellished jacket to make it look chic and contemporary.

♦ The colour of the garment should complement the skin tone. The modern bride should experiment with hues like bright red, pale pink, dark purple and teal.