Categories
Fashion Lite Blogs

Curating a new aesthetic language

The immense detailing in each garment will take astound the viewer and the collection is bound to flatter all body types and is gender fluid and just the right mix of couture and festive regale…reports Asian Lite News

Men’s wear couturier Kunal Rawal and luxury handloom brand, Ekaya Banaras, come together in a unique collaboration. Two of India’s young fashion stalwarts have amalgamated their design sensibilities to create a new aesthetic language in luxury occasion wear for men.

The designer has, for the first time, used brocade combined with his signature structured and flowing silhouettes to create a splendid festive collection. The collection celebrates brocades produced by the artisans at Ekaya and places them in Kunal’s signature design aesthetic of classic yet fun menswear pieces.

The meticulously crafted collection is the result of each step being carried out with utmost love – from the couturier and the expert craftspeople – while staying true to the goal of being a modern ode to our grand old Indian traditions of hand-crafted textiles and couture. This collection has been painstakingly designed over a period of a year to ensure that every piece is unique, and festive and celebrates traditions with a twist of the contemporary.

Kunal Rawal x Ekaya

A true confluence of expert weaving and Rawal’s signature motifs and hand embroidery, every garment in this collection joyfully brings alive the festive mood with colours ranging from ivory, beige, and dark wine to blush pinks and cobalt blue, colours that span across day celebrations and evening wear. Kunal’s signature motifs of the BOM Arrow, cactus, and a new rendition of the much-loved geometric designs – all have been thoughtfully captured in the weaves that celebrate this season with classic zari embroidery.

The immense detailing in each garment will take astound the viewer and the collection is bound to flatter all body types and is gender fluid and just the right mix of couture and festive regale.

The garments also provide unrivaled versatility and wearability – the hallmarks of Rawal’s design values – allowing the wearer to dress it up or down easily and transition between day and night seamlessly. This exclusive collection features jackets, kurtas, kurta shirts, dhotis, and layered ensembles perfect for festive celebrations of any kind.

Kunal Rawal x Ekaya

Kunal Rawal said, “I’m so excited to be a part of the menswear evolution in India. With the boundaries around what men can wear being erased, it felt like the perfect time to take Ekaya’s exquisite handloom brocades, a textile rarely ever used for men, and combine it with my own design aesthetic. I have designed this collection keeping in mind the many different personalities and preferences of all the men I know, and I hope that everyone will find something in it that they love.”

“The key catalyst behind this collaboration between Ekaya Banaras and Kunal Rawal was the synergy and values, which the two design houses stand for. Born out of love for the ancient Indian tradition of hand-crafted textiles, this creative partnership brings two worlds together, which haven’t collided before. The surprising element of this artistic association is the fact that it’s so harmonious and organic. In this process of sharing our design canvas together, Ekaya Banaras and Kunal Rawal have experienced and enriched each other – partaking in the technical and artisan skill sets. I’m thrilled to see how we have amalgamated our knowledge of brocade textiles in Kunal’s realm of contemporary menswear,” added Palak Shah, CEO, of Ekaya.

The collection will be available at all Kunal Rawal & Ekaya stores across the country, ranging from INR 30,000 – INR 4,00,000.

ALSO READ-India’s first metaverse-exclusive fashion show set to take place in Decentra land

Categories
Fashion Lite Blogs

‘I get inspired by people that I see or interact with’

However, being true to your own style is something that truly reigns supreme. Covid has made us introspect deeper into our lives and as a result, we’ve become more in sync with ourselves…Kunal Rawal speaks with NIMERTA C SHARAN

Popular menswear designer Kunal Rawal’s mood board might alter every season, but there are some elements that stay intact – versatility, gender fluidity, and functionality.

His recent couture outing at the FDCI India Couture Week 2022 also marked his 15 years in the industry. Taking inspiration from our diverse cultures and traditions, his collection, ‘Dear Men’ was dominant in structured pieces finished with exquisite embroideries and smart layering. Actor Arjun Kapoor closed the show for the designer in a tone-on-tone sherwani.

In an exclusive chat with Rawal spoke about his brand philosophy, inspiration, and things that matter.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

We are a luxury contemporary brand that highly values functionality. We don’t like to box our product within a certain aesthetic – we want to cater to each and every one.

Menswear is experiencing a wholesome shift. What’s trending according to you?

There are always new, different trends coming to the fore. However, being true to your own style is something that truly reigns supreme. Covid has made us introspect deeper into our lives and as a result, we’ve become more in sync with ourselves. People are dressing for themselves and not just following fads. Mood Dressing is big as well – people are wearing what makes them happy. Lastly, I think functionality as people are looking for products that are luxurious and versatile. They want something that gives them more value for their buck; something that can be reused and repurposed.

Your style inspiration?

I get inspired by people that I see or interact with. It’s a very layered approach but we try to incorporate this into our storyline. India has such an authentic street style which is so fascinating. Every state has a different language, culture, and clothing. Also, I am hugely inspired by Mumbai – its people, architecture, sea, and everything in between.

Please elaborate on the glow-in-the-dark technology.


As a brand, we love playing with technology. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated with textiles what more can be created, and what can be done using technology. We’ve been exploring the glow-in-the-dark collection for the past year and a half and have been playing with pigments and mixing it with our threads to create unique hand embroideries. It’s been a lot of fun!

Your top three best-dressed?

Rawal: Well, it keeps changing. I think a lot of people dress well. Ranveer Singh because he dresses according to his mood and for himself. Miles Teller from Top Gun dresses really cool. And, I’m dressing not too badly myself right now. So maybe me?

What’s your take on sustainable fashion?

It’s the need of the hour. As a brand, we’ve always believed in conscious production. Now, more than ever, the industry is moving towards sustainability. Also, consumers are making ethical choices – this will automatically curb fast fashion. I think the conversation around sustainability has been so strong in the last few years in India, that it is now more than just a concept. We have clients who want to know about the product, materials, sourcing, etc.

What have been your learnings from the pandemic?

Rawal: It’s been hard for everyone. The new normal has brought a lot of things into perspective. It’s taught me to have a Plan A and Plan B – something that I never believed in before. It’s important to have a strong backup plan in place. Another big learning has been ‘focus’. There’s so much to do and there always will be but until you don’t prioritise and focus on things that matter, you will not see movement.

What future plans for the brand?

Well, there’s so much to do because our journey of 15 years has been about finding acceptance with our aesthetic, pushing the envelope with contemporary Indian menswear. While we have made our mark and have a strong and discernible consumer base, I feel that we haven’t even scratched the surface when it comes to design.

Therefore, we are going to focus on growing our aesthetic and applying it to different kinds of products in apparel and otherwise. We cater to occasions and functions and yet our range is so diverse – from modern luxury to deep-rooted traditional. We plan to build on this aesthetic and take it to people that connect with it.

ALSO READ-Burberry features first Sikh child model