Jack of all designs

Fashion designer Raghavendra Rathore was born in Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Having studied fashion at Parsons School of Design in New York, he is an ace when it comes to mixing old-fashioned workmanship with modern style. Rathore finds newer, subtler ways to evoke the spirit of a past age with a fresher approach. He works towards setting newer standards in the design frontier.

Talking about venturing in jewellery designing for the second time, he says, “Most of the sketching for this collection took place in and around the jungles of Ranakpur temples; it is very similar to Kipling’s India.  The tribal look of the natives was cultivated and merged with the Inca aesthetics to contemporise the look for modern sensibilities.”

He says that his royal background did help him while designing the pieces . “The aesthetics that one inherits growing up with such a background is definitely an influence on the mind. The royal influences come more in the subtle, yet rich feel the piece has rather than a literal translation.”

With jewellery being his latest genre for designing, what is that one piece of jewellery he never steps out without. “Travelling overseas or just for a weekend out, my bandgala buttons have found a permanent place in my pouch. These buttons inspired us to create a signature line of buttons that go immaculately with the bandgala or achkan.”

And since men’s fashion is growing bigger by the day, what is that one trend that he feels men can do without? “Hair colouring! It’s a very individualistic call — if it suits you go ahead, but don’t just do it because it’s in vogue. Many men have taken to colouring their hair, the key is to keep it subtle when experimenting with colour, you shouldn’t come out looking like you’ve been at a 24x7 Holi party or for a haircut that doesn’t suit you, be it a flat messy look or a spiky wet look — remember your inherent personality and enhance it, don’t damage it.”