Narendra Kumar Ahmed is “looking forward to it with a sense of fun, wonderment and surprise.” The “it” is an aLL show with 29 plus-size models at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2018. Narendra — better known as Nari in the fashion fraternity — will be showcasing aLL PRIMERO, an aLL autumn/winter range. t2 caught up with the fashion designer on phone, after an audition of plus-sized models for LFW in Mumbai last week.
How did the auditions for plus-sized models go?
It was overwhelming because of the kind of spirit, confidence and perseverance that the models had… both men and women. It was fantastic to see such a huge turnout. To me it was an eye-opener in the sense that it spoke of a larger community that has been set aside by fashion before. Also to see how strong, spirited and comfortable they are in their skin. It was amazing to see that. For me, that was absolutely fantastic. They walked like they were having fun out there.
Tell us about the show you will be doing at LFW...
The show is based around this concept about plus-sized people leading dual lives. They might have a certain character, but they conform to what society thinks they should be doing. Slimming themselves down or wearing shapewear to conform to what other people should see. The concept of our show is Never Hyde… taking from Jekyll and Hyde (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde).
The collection is contemporary and modern. I have not designed it from the perspective of ‘oh this for plus-sized people, so I need to make plus-size appropriate clothing’. This is to move away from the idea that plus-size is a different world. The line has athleisure, denims, sports wear, evening wear… all of which are current trends globally and all brought together by some tailoring.
Are the mindsets broadening?
You know, the thing was that we measured fashion by size zero, but things have changed over the world in the last two years.
How else is the fashion world changing?
It is getting more real... in the sense of not only colour, but size and many different things. And it’s not just fashion… we as people are growing more confident of ourselves.
Have you, as a designer, ever put yourself under the scanner?
When it comes to my taste, I was never given to the idea of bulimic, size-zero people. For me, clothes were about the curves. But it’s just that curves mean different today than what they meant two or three years ago, right? You look for an ideal model or face, but it was always about the mind. Our clothes were to dress the mind.
What would be your tips for aspiring models and every girl reading this?
More than anything, one should realise that the world is changing. People’s expectations from themselves are changing. Being size zero doesn’t mean anything going forward in life. What is important is to be fit. It is tough to become a model but everybody has an equal chance at success.
What about the male models?
They struggle as much as the women do. For them there is lesser work and lot more competition.
