Archana Kochhar “I have always followed my dreams”

[vc_row][vc_column][td_block_text_with_title custom_title=”FASHION” separator=””]Archana Kochhar has been showcasing her collection on national and international fashion ramps for over a decade now. She is one of the known international designers and most fashionable icons of India. SANDEEP HATTANGADI talks to the lady at the launch of Mrs. Bharat contest recently.

 

How has your journey been so far?
I have been in this industry for the last twenty years and have enjoyed every moment of it but I still want to achieve more and make my brand well known all over the globe.

You have designed for almost all the popular names in Bollywood!
I am very happy with the way the industry has accepted me and I would love to work constantly with all of them.

How has the fashion scene involved in India?
The fashion scenario in India is bigger and more visible and there are many more designers and finalists with many avenues for those connected with the fashion scene and Indian models and fashion designers are known more internationally and Indian brands too are known more overseas.

What are the popular forms of fashion today?
Weddings always get me very excited. Every girl dreams of her wedding. The whole journey of dressing up a bride from head to toe is extremely enthralling and challenging at the same time. From getting the right outfit together in terms of silhouette, draping and fitting, embroidery, and embellishment to putting together the right jewelry, accessories and footwear, it’s a beautiful journey for the bride and I love to be a part of this journey along with her. It is a whole transformation of a pretty girl to a sexy and beautiful woman and me adding my bit to it. We have actually revolutionized the bridal market with gowns and wedding attire with Indian and contemporary silhouettes and craftsmanship.

“There is rarely a wedding that takes place today without the bride wearing a gown for at least one occasion.”

Go on!
My personal design sensibility is a perfect marriage with exquisite embroideries and nouveau texturizing techniques which are traditionally rooted, especially all in those of luscious color blocked palettes. From prêt^ to couture ranging from innovative styled gowns, saris, draped lehengas, anarkalis and also luxe ready- to- wear range of tunics and kaftans. Earlier Western wear like jeans were popular and suits were also in vogue but now it is more about dresses and other formal wear. There is rarely a wedding that takes place today without the bride wearing a gown for at least one occasion. Zarine Khan recently looked stunning in a champagne tulle gown with crystals sprinkled on it. Gowns have become an integral part of fashion. Gowns have come of age and Indian brides today are global citizens, who enjoy experimenting with a variety of silhouettes.

What are your personal achievements like?
Being one of the most sought after designer for bride and bridegroom wear all over the world, I have been invited by the prestigious L’afayette De Paris to showcase the collection with my label with international design houses like Kenzo, Christian Lecriox, Ungaro and Nina Ricci.

Today Bollywood stars have their own designers? Who are your major clients?
Now it is more about stylists and recently I designed for Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. Some other clients include Kangana Ranaut, Shah Rukh Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Shraddha Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, I’leana D’Cruz, Chitrangada Singh, Bipasha Basu, Divya Khosla, Urmila Matondkar, Soha Ali Khan, Amrita Rao, Ayesha Takia, Sunidhi Chauhan, Zeenat Aman, Mugdha Godse, Celina Jaitley, Jacqueline Fenandez, Raveena Tandon, Prachi Desai, Sameera Reddy etc to name a few. I have many more clients but hope to reveal them at the right time because can’t take up so much work that I am exhausted out of ideas. I want to do much more original work and break the set patterns of fashion in India.

What is your definition of a real Indian woman?
I believe that a true Archana Kochhar woman would be someone who is confident and would stand by what she believes in and wants to live life to the fullest.

Tell us something about the colors and the fabrics you use?
I have a very global design sensibility which is very traditionally rooted, and I love to make my collections in luscious color blocked palettes. I love fabrics that are soft and drape well. And I also enjoy working with lycra based fabrics for my pret lines.

What are your personal favorites?
Internationally it’s Elli Saab and Manish Malhotra in India and I am proud of Manish for what he has done for fashion in India. It’s good to see so many fashion designers who have come on the scene and become popular and their brands have become popular too. We have reached international standards and even foreigners have started using our brands which is a big achievement for our country.

What do you think of the fashion schools which are mushrooming every day all over?
It’s good for the fashion industry and there are so many avenues for students like styling, costume designing, fashion consultancy, dress designing, opening your own store and starting your own fashion label, and these students must be clear in their minds as to what to do and they shouldn’t blindly enroll in a fashion school.

Today there are so many fashion shows and fashion weeks. Is it good for the industry?
I myself am a part of it and a part of Laxme Fashion weeks. They give a platform to showcase their talent to budding models and fashion designers and also give them an earning proposition.

What advice would you give to budding fashion designers?
I would advise them to remain focused, do hard work and use modern tools like the internet, fashion channels, the fashion magazines and other social medias to come up in life. They should also use modern shops like Amazon India and Flipcarts to sell their products.

What was the highlight for the Lakme Fashion Week, Summer/Resort?
My Collection “Paris Amour” for the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 2014 is an imagery of the beautiful city Paris. Romance and Paris go hand in hand. It is a city bursting with sparks and energy, love and fashion. This collection is inspired by the “pop-art Paris map”, the iconic “Eiffel Tower” and the twines of colorful spring flowers creating beauty of juxtapose using monochromatic stripes and checks in digital prints.

What is your idea of Mrs. Bharat?How would you groom the 31 finalists of Mrs. Bharat?
She needs to be a good homemaker and give her precious time more to her family yet she shouldn’t ignore her dreams and passions and try to achieve them with vigor and her marital status shouldn’t be a roadblock in pursuing her dreams. We are inviting a British grooming institute to teach manners and etiquettes in public among other things to these 31 finalists.[/td_block_text_with_title][/vc_column][/vc_row]