Elle India – July 2019

(Joyce) #1

ELLE.IN 108 JULY


Ambika Ananad: Tell us a bit about
your latest collection?
Shantanu Mehra: Our latest capsule
collection is our take on how we
see millennials today and how we
connect with them through fashion.  
Nikhil Mehra: The ensembles feature
contemporary hues that have been
reworked into exaggerated neo
drapes and dramatic silhouettes.

AA: Your designs are made for strong,
and fierce women. How do you define
the ideal Shantanu & Nikhil woman?
NM: She is fearless and experimental;
and she has varied perspectives
on things. She does not adhere to
constructed norms of fashion. She
wishes to create her own beliefs and
stands strongly by them.
SM: Adding to that, these women are
ambitious and strong willed, who
shoulder responsibilities but are also
fun with new-age spunk.

AA: Fashion is often a reaction to the
current times; can you tell us how your
clothes represent the zeitgeist?
SM: All our collections stem from
emotions and nostalgia towards our
country. Collections like Cabinet
Mission, Regiment were political
chic collections.

aspect would be that I am brutally
fearless when life punches me with
some challenging moments.
NM: I love to take interest in the lives
of people close to me and be a part of
it. I do not accept failure easily, there
is always scope for improvement and
I face challenges head on.

AA: What has been a game changing
moment for you?
NM: In 2013, when cricketers
Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan,
Mohammad Kaif and Irfan Pathan
walked for one of our shows,
and shortly after that we had the
opportunity to dress Mr Amitabh
Bachchan. This period marked
the beginning of our journey into
men’s fashion.
SM: A few years later, Shilpa Shetty
wore our first gown ever made, at the
IIFA Green Carpet after she won Big
Brother in London. That helped us
start our philosophy on gowns.

AA: What’s the best advice someone
has given you?
SM: Constantly disrupt your art
with the objective to only get better
each time.
NM: Opportunities knock on
your door every day; learn to open
the door.

Sushant Chhabria

W


hat sets designer duo Shantanu and
Nikhil Mehra in a league of their own
is their penchant to celebrate nostalgia.
Especially in today’s time and space. It’s
the clever juxtaposition of glitz and street
cred, sensuous draping and structured architectural lines
that makes this a brand that is not afraid to take risks, and
have some fun while they are
at it. Little wonder then that
the brothers have become
a go-to label for men and
women who love a little spunk
and drama in their sartorial
choice. In a freewheeling chat
with Ambika Anand, they
talk about their inspirations,
celebrating egalitarianism and
the importance of constantly
disrupting art.

NM: These collections portrayed how
we emerged from political instability
and moved towards stability, and
how the country unified and become
more nationalistic. And now, our
country seems to be moving in a
direction of strength and solidarity,
which reflects in the colour palette of
our new collection.

AA: This season fashion has no
gender—what would you recommend
men and women to wear to be in sync
with this fashion phenomenon?
SM: Shantanu & Nikhil as a brand has
outspokenly exhibited its stand on
egalitarianism. We strongly believe
that both men and women have
masculine and feminine energies
and each of them use the respective
energy when required. Similarly,
being the creators of our signature
drape kurta in India, we have added
a rather fluid energy to the simply
structured Indian kurta for men.

AA: What’s the most feminine and the
most fierce aspect to you?
SM: I guess the most feminine aspect
to me is that I never shy away from
being a mother to both my sons
whenever needed and the fierce

“All our
collections stem
from emotions and
nostalgia towards
our country”

— SHANTANU MEHRA

“Our country
seems to be
moving in a direction
of strength and
solidarity, which
reflects in the colour
palette of our
new collection”
— NIKHIL MEHRA
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