Fashion is about showcasing one’s own personality and roots: Designer Anand Kabra

He’s one of the most wanted names in Hyderabad, his clothes have also won him fans across the country and he’s been part of several big fashion events. Anand Kabra, who has just finished touring the country for the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, is excited about his fall winter lines, through which he spoke about India as it is today.

“The theme of my collection was No Masks, which basically spoke about the change in belief systems today. With the crumbling of the negative, we’re all aiming at going back to our roots. We want to reaffirm the faith in the system,” says Anand, whose collection tries to reflect the current political scenario.

“I’ve used a window in the Notre Dame, which has stuck in my memory, as the basis of this collection, where I’ve even replicated the mosaic tile print by playing around with it in size and scale. The collection, which encompasses everything from day to evening to formal to wedding wear, is monochromatic,” says Anand.

The designer, who prefers to keep himself busy with designing and does not bother much about sales, says, “I make my clothes for the contemporary Indian women. These women are confident, know their fashion and are not afraid of flaunting their sensuality. I’d like to believe that the clothes that I make are more tailored towards the mature women as opposed to girls.”

Being from a city like Hyderabad, Anand believes that his roots and surroundings reflect a lot in his clothes. “I’m not embarrassed of where I come from. In fact, I’m proud to be part of a city that is a melting pot of so many cultures. It holds intact both modernity and history and these are the things that inspire me into making my clothes,” he says.

For Anand, fashion influences are more mundane. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any aha moments that trigger off my designs. I soak in what I see and believe and these are what reflect in the clothes that I make,” says Anand, who is from the conventional school of thought where he believes fashion should talk for itself rather than piggybacking on someone.

“I don’t understand the idea of the showstopper yet. It works when the actor walking the ramp is one’s muse and believes in his or her designs. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Today, you find an actor walking the ramp for one designer on one night and for another on the other night. So, it doesn’t really help in creating a recall value for a brand,” says Anand.

But, this doesn’t mean that Anand stays off film actors. “Retailing out of Hyderabad, it is natural that some of my clients are related to the film industry. I’ve also worked on some South Indian films as well. Actor Shriya Saran is a dear friend and she likes my designs. I have designed her wardrobe for many films. I recently even worked on actor Hansika Motwani’s clothes for one of her recent films,” says Anand.

As for his take on South Indian designers coming into the forefront lately, Anand says, “There have always been good designers everywhere. It is with the media boom that these people are being recognised. Yes, today fashion in India is no longer limited to Delhi or Mumbai. The world is growing smaller with the connectivity, which has helped bridge these gaps.”

And as an example of this, Anand points out how his clothes are available in stores like Collage and Evoluzione in Bangalore. “I find the women in Bangalore very stylish and smart. They know what to wear and have a good grasp of fashion. This is what brings me back to this city every few months,” signs off Anand.