Fit for a queen

India's celebrated designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, who are on call to dress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for her Cannes outing, took a swipe at all those who have been mean to the former Miss World's post-natal figure.

"She's enjoying her motherhood, but Indian people have been so unkind towards her," said Khosla.

The designer to Bollywood stars blamed it on aping the West.

"Why are we setting these Western standards? It's a Western import and journalists are just obsessed with size zero. There's no need to be because it was never our thing," said Khosla who claims to prefer plus-size women over waif-like models.

"Why can't they just say she's celebrating motherhood and leave it at that?"

The designer's unconventional stand also extends to his designs. For the red carpet call at Cannes International Film Festival, the duo has chosen not to subscribe to Western silhouettes and have tailored an "unapologetically Indian" wardrobe for the face of cosmetic giant L'Oreal.

"She's a modern-day royalty and she's going to wear a classic Abu Sandeep. It's got our signature motifs all over it."

Among the pieces designed for her Cannes red carpet outing is an off-white sari with zardosi border paired with a colourful blouse, which Rai Bachchan wore at the amfAR gala.

"We had to cover her in the right places and keep it open in the right places. We did not try to swathe her with lots of layers. It's not a big, bad ensemble. The sari will always show off your shape," said Khosla.

Fashion critics are likely to hail it as a smart choice since Rai Bachchan has come under fire for wearing shapeless tunics since the birth of her daughter, Aaradhya. Her recent March outing at the Dubai World Cup races, which saw her swaddled in a red Sabyasachi tunic from head to toe, evoked mixed reactions.

"Our designs are going to be statement pieces. There will not be any dupatta [shrug] or jewellery taking the attention away. Nobody will be able to fault our craft or style," said Khosla, who is stocked at Dubai's Rivaage boutique. He added that their pieces were an ode to India's rich past and traditions.

"If the world can make their own statements with their own culture on the red carpet, so can we. We have such a rich past. If you're wearing a gown, you are wearing just one more gown. This is something different."

This year is also going to be a double delight for the duo. "There are plans to come to Dubai with our coffee table book titled Indian Fantastique. We will launch it in September. Dubai is also one of our stops."