Paromita Banerjee and Sneha Arora bond at 85 Lansdowne on Saturday. Picture: Rashbehari Das

One works wonders with weaves, sustaining a craft. The other tells fascinating stories via graphics and print, sustaining an art. Both are shining stars of fashion. Calcutta’s young designers Paromita Banerjee and Sneha Arora in a freewheeling chat with t2 as they get set for for their summer promotion at 85 Lansdowne...

Both of you have developed a strong signature style in such a short span of time (Paromita is nine seasons old and Sneha is four.) How does one discover their sensibility so early on?

Paromita: Well, it could start from college or maybe even prior to college. These days colleges have become so specialised that it makes it easy to branch out. I was always interested in art and painting so I knew that I wanted to do something with my hands. In my first year as a textile design student in NID (Ahmedabad), my life turned around at a weaving course. We actually set up a loom with strands of cotton and wove a hanky-size sample. That was such a huge turn on! Life hasn’t been the same since.

Sneha: I used to always be studying a lot and wanted to become a doctor. Fashion just happened to happen to me and when it did, it was all such a drastic change. Personally, I don’t know when and how you realise your calling and signature style, but if you are lucky, one day you just realise it. It took me three seasons to realise that this is what I am good at and this is what I want to continue with.

Once you have cracked your style, how important is it to stick to your signature?

Sneha: It is definitely important to stick to it to sustain in the long run.

Paromita: It is very easy to get influenced by the things around you but sticking to your signature style is essential. After doing nine seasons, it feels good when journalists write ‘Paromita Banerjee’s signature style...’ It means that others are getting it.

A moment from Tana-Bana, Paromita’s autumn-winter line at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week

Can you both imagine making lehngas?

Sneha: I will never be able to turn 360 degrees from what I am doing now. So I guess I have to make digital-printed lehngas!

Paromita: And I don’t think I would ever, ever, ever make lehngas to save anybody’s life and even if I did, it would be an understated, non-blingy and a woven lehnga. I would love to wear a gota ghagra but I wouldn’t want to make them for a collection from the bottom of my heart.

What is your take on copycats?

Paromita: I often worry that my designs will get leaked but thankfully it hasn’t happened to me.

Sneha: I think, to each his own. Since fashion runs on a trickle-down theory, copying is unavoidable. It does not intimidate our label since we know even if the prints are copied they will never be able to replicate our detailing. And as they say, it’s the best form of flattery!

What is your top peeve?

Sneha: Calling my prints quirky. Whatever is slightly different or which is not normally available is being labelled as quirky. That’s not true. Maybe in a later collection I will come up with quirky prints but right now what I do is conceptual. Not quirky.

Paromita: When senior designers suddenly use traditional weaves because that’s the order of the day. They do weaves because it is fashionable to do so, not because that’s what they like aesthetically or ethically.

Sneha’s summer line at Lakme Fashion Week in March spoke about ‘imperfections and the beauty of being faulty’

What’s inside your own wardrobes?

Sneha: Besides my own collection, I have basic T-shirts from Zara and Mango. There’s never time to make clothes for myself.

Paromita: Both of us are lucky, we can wear sample size! (Laughs) I have a lot of leftover separates from my shows. I also buy fabrics from other weavers and I recently picked up a parrot-printed stole that I love.

What makes a white kurta/shirt perfect?

Paromita: For a kurta, the fabric is important. It should be simple, straight and with three-fourth sleeves, so that it’s trans-seasonal.

Sneha: For a perfect shirt, just come to Sneha Arora! (LOL)

Sneha Arora

Age: 29
School: St. Teresa’s Secondary School and Calcutta Girls’ High School
College: NIFT, Calcutta
Design DNA: “Storytelling through designs. It is a bit androgynous and masculine. We do a lot of digital printing. We use a lot of conceptual prints in the garments.”

Paromita Banerjee

Age: 29
School: GD Birla Centre For Education
College: NID, Ahmedabad
Design DNA: “Simple and effective in a vast range of Indian handlooms.”

Wardrobe must-haves from Sneha

Well-fitted denims
white linen shirt
A printed dress
Tan sandals
A gold neckpiece

Wardrobe must-haves from Paromita

A traditional heirloom sari in a classic colour
A nice tote bag
A white kurta
A reversible cape
Some nice silver jewellery
Great-fit jeans

Fun & Free Spirited will be held at 85 Lansdowne on Wednesday and Thursday.