The Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour powered by FDCI, is back after a hiatus of two years and kick-starts in Kolkata today with a fashion showcase by Shantnu & Nikhil themed on ‘Pride in Bringing Twists in Traditions’ that will be imbued with the ‘spirit of cricket’. The Telegraph caught up with Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of Indian Women’s Cricket Team, whom the brothers have ‘imagined’ the collection with. The all-rounder chatted with us about how excited she was about her first fashion project, her personal style, BCCI’s equal pay for women cricketers and her shopping buddies in the team, ahead of the show at Royal Calcutta Golf Club today evening.
Tell us about the collaboration...
It feels great. You know, this is the first time I’m going to do something with fashion. I’ve always been on the cricket field and the moment I got this opportunity, I immediately said yes because I like to do new things. I like to, you know, bring new things in my life and whenever I get that opportunity, I’ll take it as a pride, as a challenge. So I think that this is something which will give me a lot of confidence in the future also. Whenever I do something new, it upgrades my personality. So I think it’s a great opportunity for me to collaborate with Nikhil and Shantnu and the Blenders Pride. I think it’s something which I was looking forward to for a long time because I have seen a lot of male cricketers doing all these things. And this is the first time a female cricketer is going to do something like this. So I think this is something I’ll take as a big pride.
Were you nervous though?
Well, I wasn’t nervous because this is something I have always wanted to do. I have always been on the cricket field and have never got time to do anything with fashion. This is my first and that too within my comfort zone. I was excited. It is a great part of my journey. It’ll be a great opportunity for me to upgrade my fashion sense.
What is your fashion like?
Well, I usually like to wear casual T-shirts and jeans. That is something which I’ve been wearing for a long time. And that is my comfort zone.
Harmanpreet Kaur with Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra at the Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour powered by FDCI curtain raiser in Delhi.
What did you think of what you wore at the preview?
Nikhil and Shantnu have been designing for a long time and this time, we are bringing outfits that will capture the ‘spirit of cricket’. I wore a blazer with trousers and that is something I like to wear, wherever I go, apart from cricket. So, the outfit gives me a lot of comfort and I think that is something which looks very much like what I like to wear.
Do you have a shopping buddy in the team?
I used to do a lot of shopping with Jhulandi (Jhulan Goswami). Harleen (Deol) likes to shop a lot.
Do you like to go shopping when you’re in a new city?
Yes, like on our day off, when we are not playing and not training. That is something that gives you that switch off from cricket.
What dominates your wardrobe?
I think casual T-shirts because, as I said, I like to be in my comfort zone.
Finally, we have to ask you about equal pay for the women cricketers that the BCCI announced and what was your first reaction? Was it one of disbelief? And what do you think it will do for women’s cricket in the country?
I think that’s something we take as pride because we have been working so hard for a long time. And when I got this news, it gave me a lot of confidence and it feels like the hard work we have been doing for a long time is finally getting rewarded. I was in the BCCI office that day because they had especially called me when they were going to announce it and it was a great moment for me. And I’m really happy that it happened now. I’m part of it and I think it shows how much the BCCI is keen for us to do well in the future. And you know, they are taking women’s cricket so seriously. Whatever we are asking for, they are slowly getting it. So I think it’s a great initiative taken by the BCCI and we are really happy and very proud.
