Sulakshana Monga will set the rhythm of ICW 2014 with a line which complies with the needs of a sure-footed woman who embraces embroideries as much as adroit cuts
By Asmita Aggarwal
Born in Bikaner and raised in Sri Ganganagar, where her father owned cotton mills, Sulakshana Monga knew when she was 10, that she would never be a housewife and thats why she quietly observed how her father conducted business.
Moving to Delhi after a love marriage, Sulakshana, launched her label in 1989, Soltee which means relationship in Nepali, hoping to form a long-term bond with her customers. As a kid, we always had a tailor at home, who would make our clothes, that was my first brush with designing, she remembers. Today she has taken a big leap by launching a store in Birmingham, UK, opened one-and-a-half-years ago, where she hopes to give NRIs a taste of true Indian flavours. Clothes are no longer regional, they are increasingly going global, thats why you have an amalgamation of Eastern embroideries with Western cuts, she explains.
Growing up in the vibrant city of Rajasthan, Mongas strongest points are colour gradations, which she manages with ease and of course mirror work, a big part of her couture line last year, which epitomises the spirit of a city that unabashedly embraces vibrancy.
A first-timer at the India Couture Week, Sulakshana Couture, a label that was launched six years ago, will see her reviving Mughal motifs through an antiquated look, travelling back in time to capture royalty through zardosi and high-definition embroideries worn by the Maharajas. Silver, gold, maroons, fuchsia pinks, in textured fabrics, sequins and structured silhouettes is what couture is all about for us this year. Luxurious skirts, along with revival of gararas, long tunics will welcome the discerning bride who earlier loved the six yard sari, but now wants something more fitted with the right proportions, she adds.
Slim is the new buzzword and anything which is not cut close to the body, Monga says is unacceptable to the bride. Plus, she wants different outfits for each function – there is a defined place for an embellished gown, sari and lehenga. The play is on the blouse, with sheer, neutral hues and two contrasts structure and fluidity making an effective impact. You can wear this dramatic piece with a skirt, jeans and even a sari as the lines have slowly blurred, she concludes.