The husband-wife team of Shane and Falguni tell us why glamour always works despite the desert being their veiled inspiration, where Kareena Kapoor Khan, this ICW 2018 frolics in gold.
By Asmita Aggarwal
Shane is a man of few words and measured stances, so to get the Anglo-Indian, who was born in Bangalore to speak can be an uphill task, despite your heady persistence. Maybe thats why he has Falguni, the Mumbai girl and the savvier one by his side, almost always.
The Peacocks wont reveal where they studied fashion from, but thats doesnt minimise the fact that they have managed to open to stores in the US— Los Angeles and New York, which they have been successfully running for over seven years now.
Shane grew up in Ooty, and met and fell in love with Falguni, when he was running his export house and was looking for someone to paint a line. They not just got married, but also decided to start a brand together in 2005. This is the first time in their 13 year long career that the Peacocks are ever showing at a couture week, so it is in many ways special for them. Our line is not traditional in fact it is quite global with an international flair, says Shane.
Maybe thats why they are best friends with Paris Hilton, the girl famous for being famous, who has been the biggest supporter of their brand. She likes to stand out and thats just what we design for her, explains Shane. In this list they have also added J.Lo, Rihanna, Beyonce and Nicki Minaj which Shane attributes to his love for music, something he grew up listening to and savouring and sub-consciously wanting to be a part of. Our brand has a rock and roll feel to it, it is edgy so musicians love it, he explains.
Interestingly, what has remained in his inspiration trunk is Rajasthan with its deserts and the magnificent palaces that are awe inspiring despite the tough terrain. Thats why Amour de Junagarh their new line for ICW 2018, which is resplendent with motifs from the palaces of Junagarh, Bikaner even though the Peacocks have never visited the place and only used their power of imagination.
The red sandstone that it boasts of is imagined in tulle, organza and net that the duo has used, and the mosaic work is enlivened by the mokaish and foil work. The story they are attempting to narrate is one where a Parisian queen comes to Rajasthan to attend the Junagarh mela and falls in love with the place. The zig-zag motifs on the exterior of the palace are interpreted in the embroideries by the Peacocks as well as the marbled inlay in the palette and the extravagant use of lace. You can see an array of motifs from peacocks to Indian royalty and elephants, tigers and parrots used and they are bursting with nostalgia-filled stories, he explains.
The Peacocks have come to Delhi with the hope that this stylish city that loves to dress up, will be a lot different than the professional Mumbai where women wearing slippers buy gowns worth lakhs. The capital, on the other hand, he believes is always chic. We have been participating in the London and New York fashion weeks for almost nine years now, so we know what it takes to make a hit show, he smiles.
The duo has also launched a monthly magazine which they have been successfully publishing for the last one year. The idea was to take the brand forward, through editorials and a cover star, and now they want to add a global icon to it soon. We started in October last year and have been happy with the success that we received. But there is a lot more in the offing in terms of brand extensions this year, he says adding, This includes a kids line for girls, in addition to our already existing prêt and couture label.
It is tough to do a line now that is disconnected from what is available due to the onslaught of social media. The accessibility keeps designers on their toes as everything is for everyone to see, he admits. The bride, he adds is urban so she is looking for flattering cuts, with a mix of craftsmanship and pleasing colours. So you cant say pink or red work anymore, it is important to be relevant and we aim at being present in the niche couture market with our discerning offerings, he concludes.