Exclusive: “I Hate That Today Designers Are Making Clothes For Instagram” Punit Balana On Utsav Collection
Celebration of colours and cultures!
On day 3 of Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI, designers paid homage to India-born silhouettes, given a resort wear twist. From royal Rajasthani to electric prints, dopamine dressing overpowered the art of subtle romance. And amongst the many designers who strutted the runway with their latest, Spring-Summer collection, designer Punit Balana packaged his love for India, with magnificent colours, textures and dazzling embroidery. In a conversation with me, Balana puts his mood board for Utsav collection into words, and speaks about the one change he wishes to see in the Indian fashion industry.
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Speaking about the collection, Balana mentions–”The collection is called Utsav, made for celebrations, for joyous occasions of India. If I talk about the colour palette, it’s a beautiful colour palette. I’ve named my colours as–Gulabi gulaal, Surkhlaal and kaccha aam, while the silhouettes are playful. The lehengas are voluminous and paired with open-back, halter blouses.”
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Like each of his creations, Utsav was a celebration of Indian heritage, mixed with a flavourful contemporary twist. “Whenever I’m working on a particular collection, I make sure that. Our heritage, our textiles are the main part of my collection. But at the same time, it’s very important for me to make them contemporary because our new age bride, our Gen Z, they’re happy to experiment with the textiles and rich fabrics, but the cuts need to be modern, so that they feel modern, and sexy.”
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For the latest showcase, Balana welcomed actress Sara Ali Khan, to walk for his new collection. Speaking to us, Balana mentioned why, Khan was chosen as his muse for the day. “She has this royal elegance, and some Navabi feel and touch to her personality. It reflects from her personality all the time. So I just wanted somebody who can wear these beautiful Indian textile and at the same time has that modern, Indian rooted charm.”
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With consecutive showcases at the fashion week, Balana speaks about the one change that he wishes to see in the Indian fashion industry, as he quips– “I’ll be honest. I hate that fact that now designers are making clothes for Instagram. It is simply annoying. That’s not art. I feel fashion is an expression of who you are. You can’t make something just to look good on Instagram. That is something I feel needs to go.”
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The designer’s latest collection brought the Kalbelia community of Rajasthan under the spotlight. From rich colours, textiles to culturally-relevant embroideries, Balana reimagined the rooted style essence of the popular Indian state, and folklore, into a contemporary piece of art.
Hauterrfly is delivering all the piping hot updates from the FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week. Follow our series #HauteFrontRow here and on our Instagram to catch the coverage!
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