There was a time when people only saw Indian fashion in Bollywood; when fashion week consisted of Indian actors and actresses parading on the runway, but that has now changed. There has been an onset of young talented designers in our industry who believe fashion is much more than celebrity style and focus more on silhouettes than the guest list; Prashant Verma is one of them. Most of us know Prashant Verma as yet another New Delhi fashion designer struggling to reach the helm; but a few of us know of the hard work and the originality the designer uses in his creations. The designer is far ahead of his competition. He has showed his collection in London, been trained at the houses of Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy and John Galliano and has retail in New York. He has a known affinity for innovative embroideries, the contemporary culture and the textures he uses in women’s western wear.
(Image via High Heels Confidential)
“The clothes are merely an end product of a process of research and introspection. They are just about as important as the soundtrack or the lights or the props – they’re all coming together to tell a story. They only reflect the journey and its very significant points”- Prashant Verma to High Heels Confidential.
Prashant isn’t what you call an average Indian designer, primarily because of his out-of-the-box creations. If the world is using color block, he would do leopard prints; if we are obsessing over midi-length; he would adopt maxi. His clothes have a soul; they speak to us.
Freshly graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in 2004, the designer started his eponymous label two years after. He is believed to introduce digitalism in fashion, much like Christopher Bailey of Burberry. After releasing the label, awards and recognition were like a waterfall. He was mentioned in ‘The 60 eminent New Indians’ a list piled by India Times (an acclaimed Indian newspaper) four years ago. He was named FDCI’s best new designer in 2008 and was listed on Delhi Times’ (a popular lifestyle and entertainment newspaper) Most Significant Debuts of 2008. In addition, several globally renowned Bollywood actors have also endorsed his designs.
His controversial Spring/Summer Collection this year also created a lot of buzz in the industry for ‘revamping’ the Bhagvad Gita . His collection made us transport into the underworld were darkness and wickedness ruled. Prashant’s an expert when it comes to playing with people’s minds which was quite significant that night. It was as if ‘Art and Digitalia came alive’.
Prashant has be described around the web to exhibit ”Power shoulders descending into cascading fabric in galaxy prints …” online journalists also mention “the presentation was among the best we have seen so far and the collection inspired by the Bhagvad and is a visual explanation of the designer’s aesthetic universe. The final piece, a plain white gown worn with a long jacket embellished with white stones was the perfect end to one of the most visually stimulating shows we have seen thus far.”, his raves and reviews have set him apart as an international designer to watch.
Prashant Verma is perhaps, one of the greatest and most promising minds in our industry today; he has a long road ahead of him in this industry. We are describing this collection, as a mere, humble beginning.
– Anupriya Dutta
