Shobha De calls for a reality check

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New Delhi: Writer and columnist Shobha De, is not walking the ramp for anyone. She has been busy observing the fashionistas and jotting down some serious notes on the Indian fashion scene. Iram Mirza finds her take on designers.

Iram Mirza: Are there any designers that you simply cannot stand?

Shobha De: Frankly its so difficult to tell them apart these days. You walk into a store and everybody is doing sequence or a certain silhouette, throwing all the trash that you can think of. It’s hard to tell them apart but I can definitely tell you the ones that I like.

I do like Manish Arora’s designs. He is hugely talented and his sense of colour, and structure of clothes is unique. There is certain sense mischief in his clothes. I am not sure if I would like to carry dead cats or dead ducks on my head, but leaving that bit apart, he knows his vocation and works hard on it.

Also, I like Manish Malhotra because he understands Bollywood and knows that almost all the women in India look up to Bollywood stars as fashion icons. Everyone wants to look like Kareena Kapoor I guess.

Iram Mirza: How would you comment on the Indian fashion industry today?

Shobha De: I think it’s stupid for Indian designers to do a second rate, poor cousin version of Dolce and Gabbana or a Versace, something that has become a derivative in the Indian fashion industry.

Most of the designers do not even know the difference between couture and prêt (prêt-à-porter which means ready-to-wear) and can hardly pronounce them either.

I think we should be more proud of our own rich heritage, embroidery and silhouette and also come to terms with our body shapes. Not all of us can look like Kate Moss. Keeping all that in mind, Indian designers do need a reality check.

So for all you Indian designers, Shobha De has some piece of advice before they give sleepless nights to a Donatella Versace.