Hemant and Nandita are ready to give Ikkat a new dimension as they celebrate Indian-ness with colour and sparkle
By Asmita Aggarwal
The five-year-old label of Hemant and Nandita has weathered many stormy seas, but what keeps the duo who studied at NIIFT, Mohali motivated is the sparkle that remains their inherent leitmotif. Not ones to shy away from bling, Nandita combines practicality with glitter and this time their H & N Bedouin accessory line with natty caps, bracelets, head bands and hairbands will find a heady mix with India-inspired colours. “We have sindoor (red); neel (blue) and haldi (turmeric) as our showstoppers intermixed with motifs created out of deft threadwork,” she admits. Vintage, she adds has this musky aroma, which take you on a trip back in time, it is Indian but kind of a part of history which makes it both special and endearing. “I like how Good Earth does India Incorporated, without making it too kitschy neither too pragmatic, just the right balance which we hope to achieve in our line,” she smiles.
Last year, H & N did sportswear, but that too had their signature glimmer, which came emboldened with peacocks and woodpeckers done in dabka, or crystals shining on sweatpants; Indian-ness remains their focus, and one sees glimpses of it in embroidery techniques or this time their entrancing interpretation of Ikkat. “I have fallen in love with ikkat, so we have done it our way which is a deviation from how people perceive it. Small ikkat motifs have been embroidered on our dresses, maxis ad cropped tops, inspired by our travels to Istanbul where we saw some of the most stunning fabrics jostling for space in open markets,” says Nandita.
In a SS15 line where stripes will collide with tonal embroideries on jackets and skirts, H & N have extensively worked with neoprene, a fabric that takes the shape of the body. “It breathes, makes you look slimmer and above all, it is comfortable,” she explains.
As her favourite dress, a short number with a fluted flair is getting ready for a grand entry at WIFW Nandita will tell you with a smile that she is Indian, so she unabashedly loves colour and no, monochromes are not high on her trend radar!