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Rocky S launches club wear line
Rocky S is among the well known Indian designers whose collections will be showcased at Samsaara.
- By Jyoti Kalsi, Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:44 February 3, 2008
- Known for his excellent construction, detailing and finish, Rocky S has designed costumes for several Bollywood films.
- Image Credit: Atq-ur-Rehman/Gulf News
Rocky S is among the well known Indian designers whose collections will be showcased at Samsaara.
He was in Dubai to launch a spring 2008 Rocky S Noir club wear line that he has created especially for Samsaara Dubai.
Known for his excellent construction, detailing and finish, Rocky S has designed costumes for several Bollywood films and worked with stars such as John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Shilpa Shetty, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and even Beyoncé Knowles. But he is equally successful with his mainstream prêt, club wear, bridal couture, home furnishing and accessory lines.
He has recently launched a perfume and soon plans to launch children's wear, men's wear and a line of ethnic and indo-western fusion garments. We spoke to the designer about the Indian fashion scene and his celebrity clients.
Excerpts:
Why has it taken you so long to come to Dubai?
I always wait for the right opportunity and right timing. It is important to do brand building before entering a new market. By participating in some exhibitions and shows here I have understood the market and created awareness of my brand.
Now I feel that I am ready for this market. I know the taste of women here and know that they are looking for clothes that are international with a subtle Indian touch, and I have created this collection with Samsaara and Dubai in mind.
Does creating film costumes distract you from your own lines and affect the look of your mainstream collections?
Not at all. My film costumes are designed with the character, the locations and the look of the film in mind, whereas my own collections are based on my creativity and imagination keeping my clientele in mind. Doing both gives a good balance to my work and keeps my mind fresh.
Who are your favourite stars to work with?
John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Shilpa Shetty. I have worked with them from the beginning of their careers. We have grown together and we share a good comfort level. I know their body language and what looks good on them and have helped create their look. They carry off my clothes well and are my muses.
How different is the personal wardrobe you design for them from their public look?
Most of the stars I work with have come from the fashion industry and are fully aware of latest international trends. For their personal wardrobes they just pick up pieces from my regular collections.
Was it difficult to create a deglamourised look for Bipasha in Goal?
I designed the look for the entire cast of Goal. It was challenging to recreate the realistic middle-class British Indian look, while ensuring that each character looked different. I made several trips to London to research the look. Bipasha's de-glam look was a new experience and quite tough, but I am happy that she came across well as a nice, simple girl. I am working with her next in Pankh.
How was the experience of dressing Beyoncé?
I provided the dresses she wore for her concert in India and the after party. She wanted something traditional but not overpoweringly Indian. She was very involved and spent three hours trying out 20 different outfits and ordered 10 pieces.
Where do you get inspiration from?
From people, places, music and whatever else moves me. The most important thing for me is that my clothes should make a woman feel special.
Two years ago you were invited to open Milan Fashion Week. How do you see the status of Indian fashion in the global context?
The response to my collection in Milan was fabulous and my clothes have been well accepted in North America, Europe and the Far East. India has a lot of talent and we have our unique traditional embroidery, colours and textiles to offer.
With proper backing from corporate houses, Indian fashion can be on a par with international couture houses.
Tell us about your collaboration with corporate house Sepia?
As their creative consultant I have introduced the Sepia by Rocky S line. It is a contemporary, reasonably priced prêt line for the modern working woman who likes to be fashionable yet conservative.
Rocky S on Katrina
She is lovely to work with and knows exactly what looks good on her. We have been working together since she entered Bollywood and share a great chemistry.
"I am looking forward to working with her in Subhash Ghai's Yuvraj (co-starring Salman Khan) and in Vipul Shah's next film."
Dress them up
The celebrities Rocky S would like to dress are Naomi Campbell and Madonna. "They are style icons and I would dress them in outfits with a touch of India to reach out to the world through them," he said.
Samsaara
Samsaara, which means rejuvenation, is a luxury designer wear chain showcasing top Indian designer labels such as Satya Paul, Shobhaa De, Deepika Gehani, Valaya Quantum, Rocky S, Monisha Jaising, Tarun Tahiliani, Seema Khan, Shantanu & Nikhil, Surily Goel, Rohit Bal and Narendra Kumar. The store offers a wide range of women's and men's wear and accessories for all occasions.
Owned by Delhi-based Genesis Colors, Samsaara stores have been launched in several Indian cities and will soon be launched in Kuwait and many other countries.
Samsaara Dubai, which opened on Saturday, is located in Souk Al Bahar, Burj Dubai Old Town. It is a collaboration between Genesis Colors and their Dubai- based partner Rohini Gehani.
"We have a core group of leading Indian designers with some creating exclusive collections for us. But we are constantly looking for new and exciting talent because our aim is to showcase the best of Indian fashion and to bring something fresh and innovative every season," said Sanjay Kapoor, managing director, Genesis Colors.
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