‘I always strive to create pieces that are comfortable but can be defined as wearable art’: Fashion designer Rimzim Dadu

So it’s no surprise that her latest collection, introduced after a nearly two-year hiatus at Lakme Fashion Week, is about all this and more – like her. describes it as “an opportunity to pause, breathe and connect with people and their stories from around the world”. Talking more about it, Rimzim tells us about the influences, having been part of the industry for 15 years, working with diverse materials to create magic, style Bollywood divas, and also Share the most challenging thing about be a designer. Excerpt:

How was it introduced at Lakme Fashion Week – celebrated two years apart?

It’s great to be back at work physical program because nothing beats the energy and excitement of presenting your work in front of a live audience. The idea behind ‘A Sea of ​​Million Stories’ is to celebrate love in all its forms. This is especially important given what we’ve been through the past two years. Stories bind us together as human beings but in the hustle and bustle of the world we forget to stop and listen to each other, to get to know each other. Our curated lives on social media dwarf our real selves. A Sea of ​​Stories is an opportunity to pause, breathe, and connect with people and their stories from around the world. The program temporarily separates people from their reality and allows them time to immerse, learn, and be inspired by others.

Visual splendor begins from the moment people step into space and the sky is full Diamond sunk in the clouds, burned by the little notes of love. They entered the space discreetly lit by 150 lamps and shrouded in a lingering fog that gave the effect of a person walking through clouds. The brief love notes they stop to read are something that hits a chord. The show begins with three people talking about their interpretation of love – it’s Gaia – who talks about finally accepting her identity and transforming, featuring Nitya Arora talking about the importance of learning even heartbreak and the ultimate act is Anand Bhushan who talks about his ideas about the love and bond he feels with his dog and how he still remembers it even years later when it’s gone.

The space was designed by renowned architect Rajat Sodhi – co-founder of Orproject – he was inspired by coral reefs and how space became such an important thing in time. epidemic – none of us can forget six feet Limit social contact message. The show also demonstrates that designers need to be more open to actively collaborating with artists and creators from other streams. The show would not have been possible without Rajat.

Tell us about your latest collection – A Sea of ​​Million Stories. What is its USP?

In the latest collection, clean lines meet the new age finesse. Our signature wire technique in re-engineered materials re-imagines cocktails to create liquid yet structured forms. This collection is inspired by the natural elements around us, the ripples in the sea, the textures of the riverbed, the tropics and the ever-changing sky. Clean cuts, sharp silhouettes and molten metal combine to form a range of cocktail outfits specifically for women and men. With hints of metallic blue and emerald combined with sparkling silver and pristine white – the collection embodies rich colors and modern sculptural forms: dark combinations. Midway between contemporary and chic ready-to-wear. Paired with exquisite natural diamond jewelry, this set blends showiness with slow fashion and sustainable lifestyle.

How has the pandemic affected the collection – from concept to final creations?

The epidemic horrible, to say the least. But it also allows us time to pause, reflect, and set our priorities. I am always inspired by the everyday things around us and this collection is about nature – the ripples of the sea and the beautiful patterns of leaves all around us. Elements of nature have been brought together in our re-engineered textiles.

You are known to work with some unusual materials such as silicone, metal wire, stainless steel and even paper. How would you describe your design philosophy?

I always try to create works that are comfortable but can be defined as wear art. The “ordinary things” bore me and I was naturally drawn to discovering the unknown qualities of a material. For example, hard steel becomes malleable and wearable, soft chiffon becomes grunge – we repeatedly break the materials apart and then put them together in different ways to see the results. This constant experimentation produces products that achieve cult status – like our steel wire sarees. People are increasingly looking for works that differentiate and help them own their own individuality and we cannot serve them without constant experimentation. But at the same time, the clothes have to be technically perfect and there can’t be any compromises about that.

The past two years have been extremely difficult for the fashion industry – what was the most difficult thing you learned, personally and professionally?

As I said before, Lockdown allows me time to pause and think. But at the same time, it challenged me as I saw the loss very closely. My biggest lesson from the course was to never take anything for granted and enjoy the little moments in life instead of constantly chasing that big dream. The closure was difficult because it was a challenge to keep our factories running while keeping the team safe. In a few months, we created a hostel set up where the eth team stayed in the office and worked together – it brought the whole team together.

You are one of B-Town’s favorite designers. Which celebrity do you think carries their creation best?

I love stars like test their clothes. From Sonam Kapoor With Alia Bhat, many celebrities have done justice to our iconic man of steel, so I won’t just take a name!

How long did it take you to create your latest collection, and what was the most challenging aspect of a similar collection?

All this time, it’s the excitement of getting back into physical performance that drives us. The challenge is to once again get used to the craziness of the pre-show and everything that comes with it.

You have been a part of this industry for about 15 years now; How would you describe your journey?

I would say I am happy with what I have achieved but there is still a long way to go. The most gratifying part of the journey is that I never compromise on my design ethos – there’s always the pressure to “do what’s normal when it sells”. But I never accepted that and I feel happy that today we have customers from all over the world who appreciate what we do.

What do you find most challenging about being a designer in India?

I would say the most important thing is to stay true to what you believe in and never be under market pressure. That is the most challenging part.

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