Geetanjali Ranawat has been doing accessories for three seasons and this time, she is ready with her sassy Gladiators and ingenious bird-shaped bags
When Geetanjali Ranawat graduated in interior and product design from NIFT Hyderabad, she didnt know she would be working with her husband, rather than launching her own line.
Opting to keep away from the limelight, few know that Geetanjali has been doing the accessories for her husband Rajdeeps show for the last three seasons. And this time she travelled with him to theNubra Valley, Ladakh to give a new definition to his line Rococo Goes Tropical.
I will launch my own line, who knows? But right now I am happy in the space I am in. For SS 14, I have designed the entire range of bags and shoes. We have bags shaped like interesting feathered creatures—Parakeets and Toucans, made out of fabric and then sequinned, to give them an ornate feel. Lace and leather have been added along with 3- dimensional orchids capturing the theme of Ladakhs stunning valley, she smiles.
Geetanjali has also crafted another series of bags in jute and cane which have been mixed up with digital prints inspired by the hand painted garments. The biggest challenge for me is to understand what he is thinking and to also note that you cant have overpowering accessories. The ensembles must be the epicenter. So your manufacturing has to be in sync with this thought process and as we start accessories after the collection is done, I only had a month to get it all together and to make it perfect, she admits.
This time, Geetanjali was focused on trying to get the proportion of the moulding and construction right. Plus, I dont follow any seasonal trends, we try and give a nice texture to the bags to make them statement-y, she adds.
Tying up with Metro shoes, Geetanjali has also designed heeled and strappy Gladiators, knee-length in black (which will be retailed later for Rs 5,000). We didnt want to dilute the essence of the clothes by making them too colourful; black is both bold and beautiful, she says. Working with your husband, can get tough and tilt the delicate scales of adjustment, but Geetanjali says that they make quite a team. Rajdeep is easy to work with, quite clear about what he wants, so its fun to work with him. But what I did learn at NIFT has stayed with me till now—-dont be afraid to take criticism, as you cant always expect a positive feedback. It has helped me deal with the fashion industry with greater equanimity, she concludes.