From the label that gave the sari a belt two years ago comes the collared blouse with a carelessly knotted tie. At last month’s Amazon India Fashion Week in the capital, Abraham & Thakore (A&T) introduced workday outfits with a twist. They were all accessible, affordable and didn’t require the requisite Bollywood showstopper to make an impact. Also borrowing elements from womenswear and menswear, some of the separates were interchangeable.
Say it with cotton
Back to Work, featuring dresses, shrugs, kurtas, easy trousers and saris, all in cotton, comes just in time for our unforgivable summer. Rakesh Thakore says this collection goes beyond the brand’s usual dyeing and printing techniques on handloom. Talking about his recent visit to Andhra Pradesh’s weaving villages, where the A&T double-ikat saris are created, he says, “The pre-loom process, of boiling, charka winding and warping is fascinating. Our cotton spans West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. And this lightweight and absorbent cotton is perfect for the office,” He adds that the idea is to convert the fan of the polyester blend skirt-suit. “Who wouldn’t want a handcrafted suit that is made for our climate? Certain silhouettes are also appropriate for working holidays, like the plain white dresses or shirts, which can be layered,” he continues, indicating an interest from the creative workforce. As for cotton’s propensity to wrinkle – not really something you associate with power dressing – Thakore insists that this is the beauty of the fabric. “Let it crush. Enjoy it, as it means your fabric is alive and offers movement. With every wash, the fabric gets softer,” he says, persuasively. For the work to office party crowd, A&T has heavy-duty long and short kimono jackets, almost entirely covered with sequins.
United colours of summer
The colour palette of Back to Work is no-fuss, featuring indigo, madder, black and ivory, but there are plans to introduce more shades like amla. Thakore says the colours of India are always a source of inspiration – from the whites seen in Kerala to the fuchsia and acid green of Barmer, Rajasthan. As for styling, if you are looking for the bold brogues, impossibly high heels and foldable bags seen on the AIFW runway, A&T had them custom-made for the show. Thakore suggests that a few styles may be introduced shortly.
Priced from ₹3,000 to ₹12,000, Back to Work will be showcased at Chamiers, Chennai this weekend.
