The swimwear sultans

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  Narresh Kukreja (left) and Shivan Bhatiya have brought designer swimwear into the limelight and are constantly updating their repertoire; Pic by Shovan Gandhi

They've added sexy to India's fashion lexicon with their colour-blocked and stitch-free beachwear while redefining the way Indian women buy swimsuits. Designers Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja are stepping on the gas, expanding their resort collections while offering customised swimsuit services from metro cities to low-key towns (practically from Delhi/Mumbai to Raipur/Nagpur). Meanwhile, their Lycra saris, which meld the naughty bikini silhouette with the sari drape, are the talk of the town.

And all the while they've successfully skirted the traditional weddingwear market (think zardozi lehenga-cholis).

For them, couture is certainly not another word for bridalwear. 'It's possible to survive in this market without getting into the saturated market of bridalwear,' says Shivan firmly. 'For us, it was about making the idea of a beach holiday closest to a beach/destination wedding,' he adds.

So, to create a casual yet glamorous vibe at beach weddings, the designer duo is using fabrics that are resistant to liquids (like sunscreen) and are crease-free. The silhouettes chosen are saris but in their pre-stitched, hassle-free avatars. 'Our bikini and Lycra saris have silhouettes that are Indian in essence but reinforce the beach mood at weddings,' says Narresh. You can also pick up sarongs, robes and pareos (wraparound-style dresses draped over the body) from their chic honeymoon line.

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  High-waisted linen shorts are a beach must-have and can be teamed with a bandeau bikini top

Says designer Sanchita Ajjampur: 'Shivan and Narresh are among the few designers in India with a Western aesthetic and fashion sensibility who are making a significant contribution to the nascent but growing swimwear market. Their style is very graphic, New Age and youthful.'

'They have become an instant hit among Indian women,' agrees UK's Daily Mail.

With their customised swimsuit service — a first from an Indian label — they're helping reticent women reach out for the swimsuit. 'For a long time, Indian women have been trying to fit into swimwear that doesn't understand their bodies, which leads to confidence-related issues,' says Narresh, adding that the Indian body-type doesn't fit into standard UK or US sizes.

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  The Shivan & Narresh label was the first Indian brand to showcase at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012 in Miami; (above) a colour-blocked linen dress from the label stands out for its bright shades and sensuous lines

The signature's customisation facilities are available in a raft of styles including one-piece, bikini, bandeau (the glamorous morph of a strapless top and bikini bottom), trikini (swimsuits with strategic placement of fabric panels creating an exciting peekaboo effect) and maillots (one-piece swimwear that's dangerously high-cut on the hips). 'Women with unique body sizes can now get swimsuits made-to-measure, add support, increase or decrease coverage to reveal their curves or conceal body marks,' says Shivan.

The label's bespoke service is available not just in Delhi and Mumbai but even smaller cities like Chandigarh, Nagpur and Raipur. Their flagship stores and trunk shows hosted by individuals in non-metro cities do brisk business.

But swimwear alone doesn't define the brand. Their edgy resort line features slick palazzo and asymmetrical trousers, colour-blocked dresses with accentuated shoulders, pleated skirts, jumpsuits and more. But the real McCoy is the bikini sari, which is actually a swimsuit attached with a trail that can be draped around the waist and taken over the shoulder exactly like a sari.

Also up for grabs is their latest invention — the Mastectomy Blouse. 'This is a prelude to our Mastectomy Swimwear Service, which enables women who have undergone a mastectomy to have options in swimwear and everyday wear,' says Narresh.

For these swimsuit mavericks, the journey has been a remarkable one. The NIFT Delhi graduates made a splash at their debut show in Mare di Moda, 2008, the beachwear trade fair in Cannes. At the French Riviera, they showcased well-tailored swimwear made using a special bonding technology developed by spandex major Lycra. 'The swimsuit panels were finely cut and thermally fused which made them stitch-free,' says Shivan.

Their beach accessories are the flip side of their swimwear line. 'Women don't carry precious jewellery while travelling but want to accessorise. There was a need for statement accessories, which were durable and travel-friendly,' says Shivan. So, expect statement chokers, collars and necklaces embellished with crystallised Swarovski elements, acrylic, wood, leather and metal.

The designers have also just launched their online boutique. It's a complete package of their latest collections including the classic Shivan & Narresh swimwear as well as cruise/resortwear collections. They're seeking a pan-India presence initially and will distribute globally in the near future. 'Expect swimsuit deliveries within five to seven working days for the prt line,' promises Shivan.

The designers are thinking big and have major plans for amping up the glamour quotient on Indian beaches.