Nishka Lulla, daughter of National Award winning designer Neeta Lulla, has helped her mother in costume designing for actors in movies, and has also showcased her own work on the ramp. She says designing for the silver screen and the runway are equally challenging.
Asked which is easier — designing for films or for the ramp, Nishka told IANS: “I think none are easy. Both are challenging. when you design for the runway, every year you have to come out with a collection which is better than the previous one.”
Nishka, who has celebrity clients like Sonam Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Genelia D’souza and Kiran Rao, says a designer constantly competes with himself/herself while designing for the runway.
“You are constantly competing with yourself and what you have done before, to come up with something new, different and something that would create a fashion statement,” she added.
Nishka says designing for films has its own challenges.
“When you design for movies, it is a challenge because you are designing for a particular character, which you have to relate to and there are many other things you have to look at — such as location, weather, budget and character… So, both are challenging in their own way,” she added.
She says she enjoys doing both because they are different from each other.
Nishka showcased her latest line at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017 here on Saturday.
“This (collection) gives more of a glamorous touch to the boho-vibe. Earlier, I have done very easy-to-wear, casual styles. But this line has a more glamorous style to it,” she said.
The designer says her collection of 22 looks is inspired by nature and is meant for women who love their independence.
“It’s mostly inspired by nature, like butterfly wings and Indian mogra flowers… It’s mostly for women who are very free and who love their freedom,” she said.
Talking more about the collection, Nishka said: “The cuts are very relaxed and easy for movement. They are fun, casual separates, which turn dressy with embellishments. Fabric used is mostly cotton, because I think it is great for summer.
“The colours are white, old greys, fern green… So it’s more of vintage colour pallete.”
Nishka says the popularity of social media and digital platforms is helping people to know more about fashion and style — and especially helping girls to look beyond Bollywood for trends.
“With the rise of social media, I think a lot of the younger girls look at what actors wear off duty for fashion and style statements… Such as what an actress wears for a premiere, or airport looks. I think that is what inspires the girls more nowadays than movies,” she said.
(The writer’s visit is at the invitation of Lakme Fashion Week organisers. Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at [email protected])
By Durga Chakravarty
