
Designers Pankaj and Nidhi launched their label in 2006 and have been a part the Indian fashion industry for almost two decades. They have many international accolades to their credit like the iconic International Woolmark Prize, Elle Style Awards and much more. The designer duo showcased their breath-taking collection ‘House of Cards’ for the A/W’14 edition of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Designer Pankaj Ahuja talks all about the collection that took its inspiration from Spanish elements. Here are the excerpts.
Pankaj Ahuja: Fashion weeks in India have really come of age now from the time they were when they first started out; fewer designers, much smaller scale but it was an idea that had finally arrived. Thanks to sponsorship umbrellas, I think we’ve been able to put fashion week under one roof. Buyers get to come and see all designers in one location which doesn’t generally happen in London or Paris so it’s obviously a great place to be in right now.
Pankaj Ahuja: The collection is called ‘House of Cards’. These are two parallel things actually, the cards obviously are from playing cards, deck of cards, 52 cards, hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds, we love the motifs, we love what they represent.
Pankaj Ahuja: So we’ve done the collection by way of prints, we’ve done it by way of embroidered motifs which have been formed by the four suits of cards. And there is also a very strong Spanish inspiration which is running through this which has inspired the silhouettes, bolero jackets, capes, very strong colours, very Spanish vibes, and matador actually. There’s lots of gold which we’ve used in our collection for the first time. So it’s an interesting combination of two unusual ideas.