Lakme India Fashion Week 2003 :: Nahid Merchant

With a degree in fine arts from the J.J. School of arts, Nahid Merchant began her fashion career in 1986 with exhibitions and later shifted to exports under the label 'In Silks' to London, U.S.A., South Africa and Kuwait. Nahid's forte lies in experimenting with Indo-western silhouettes. Well-defined cuts and immaculately embellished garments are her hallmark. Fabrics like georgettes, crepes, khadi silk, raw silk, linens and chiffon in pure colours like pink, peach, blue, red, white, black and beige are her style. Known for her fusion lines that are free flowing and innovatively styled, she creates her own designs and unusual colour combinations. Her source of inspiration has been painters like Paul Klee and Mark Rothko.

Below is the excerpt of her interview with BharatTextile.com during preview of her collection for LIFW'03:

BharatTextile.com: Are you participating for the first time in LIFW? How do you feel being a part of LIFW’03?
Nahid Merchant: No this is my second year at the LIFW. It feels great, all the emotions seem to have reached to the brim, very excited, a bit nervous at the same time it cant be put in words, to complicated!

BharatTextile.com: What encouraged you to take part in LIFW?
Nahid Merchant: Its undoubtedly a better platform to showcase the creations [worldwide]. Also for the sole purpose of business.

BharatTextile.com: What does fashion mean to you?
Nahid Merchant: Fashion to me is something that one believes in definitely not something that's to be followed blindly. Wear what suits, you its no use to make a statement if you cant.

BharatTextile.com: What is the theme of your presentation for LIFW'03? What inspired you?
Nahid Merchant: The theme this year for my presentation is 'Hop Scotch'. In today's time, in a country like ours where one seems to be caught in the routine rut, where one doesn't seem to decide what to be. One witness a plethora of cultures colors moods & style … a "Hop Scotch” in short!

The collection is a blend of the 70's-80’s style; one feels the presence of the varied cultures present in the era. Be it the twiggy…flaunting the simple next door girl look, hip hop…the I don't care statement, punk … bursting with attitude, rock … where style is re defined, Zen … simply spiritual or the space age cult decked in silver.

Silhouettes, draped in layers are purely geometric blocked and slashed; portray a constructed element… dramatic yet pret. Fabrics like linen, organza, jamewar, raw silk, georgette, and lace' net, noile and tissue have been used to do justice and suit ones taste. The cuts are straight and simple. Surface embellishments in tucks, thread work, stones/crystals and zardozi are used for the sole purpose of texture and of course that being the designers forte.

The color pallet is played with subtly to strike a balance. Polly chromatic colors scheme, dominated by pure colors like white; beige and black paint the picture of illusion; where hues merge to emerge.

BharatTextile.com: Why did you select this theme?
Nahid Merchant: The reason I selected the theme was because one can relate to it. Besides its pret, its simple & its real. Fairy tales seem great in books & drama is perfect on screen we cant mix it with day to day life.

BharatTextile.com: How would presentation stand out among the other participants?
Nahid Merchant: As said earlier its realistic, besides if I had to put it in the cliché
form its different very different!

BharatTextile.com: What is your expectation from LIFW in term of business?
Nahid Merchant: Last year was good; hope this year its better.

BharatTextile.com: What are your future plans?
Nahid Merchant: I'm open to new ideas and avenues; let’s see what future has to unveil.

E-mail: nahid_merchant