Like every artist is acutely aware and responsive to what happens around them, my conversations with designer Amit Aggarwal over the last two years have borne testimony to his ability to adapt his art of making clothes to the changing times. Therefore, in 2022, when spring seems to have brought in a new sense of hope and light, Amit’s new collection —aptly titled Supernova — ushers in the power of light that lies within us. For the designer is of the belief that the “light lies within you and me”.
With the pandemic now having tried and tested the human race’s ability to evolve, Amit is of the opinion that it is time to embrace what is and therefore, Supernova is likened to the journey of a star till it shines its brightest. “Supernova is a lot about hope and therefore, I have seen this collection through the lens of colours,” says Amit. The spring/summer line in question sees the designer’s signature polymers in a spectrum of colours with pink symbolising vitality and passion, green symbolising fertility and the earthier colours signifying balance.
The collection sees a mix of menswear and womenswear across luxury pret and couture. But we also know that Amit’s designs are always conceived from an idea of fluidity, both in terms of non-conformity to gender and in terms of how he fuses polymer into his designs that embrace the shape of each body. In this collection, we also see painstaking detailing in the form of rubber cording, silk thread cording and ceramic beading. Light lehngas, structured blouses, saris and his take on drapes, tuxedos and kurtas are some of the things that can be seen in this collection.
Though “futuristic” seems to have been the preferred adjective for his designs for a while now, Amit enunciates the significance of craft and tradition in the making of Supernova. “I know people like calling my designs futuristic but craft is where the focus is with hand-made detailing,” says the designer.
Fusing both couture and pret together also comes from the designer’s experience of having sustained interest in his collections over the last couple of years, irrespective of the format and from his own perspective of evolution. “We have seen everyone stay home and now, everyone has new hope. We have seen our resilience and how to draw hope from within us. The light is really within us,” adds Amit.
And out of the other changes he has embraced is also the medium of unveiling his collections as he seems to be comfortable with the digital format of things. Having chosen to sit out fashion week, this season, Amit seemed happy with the decision. “I think the way fashion is consumed has changed a little and it is part of the process of evolution,” he said. And with Supernova, Amit seeks to translate his idea of evolution on to fabric and design that speaks the vocabulary of the wearer as it adapts and evolves, with a palette of colours that represent hope, rejuvenation and light.
Pictures: Courtesy of the designer