Cardigans,capes,shawls and sweaters the industrial city of Ludhiana supplies all types of woollens not just in India but to the international market as well. In the designer space,especially when it comes to menswear,Ludhiana-based Raman Vij has carved a special place for himself. A postgraduate from Nottingham Trent University,UK,Vij is among the few Indian designers who have specialised in knitwear. Ever since his official debut at the Wills India Fashion Week in 2010,the designer has charted a successful journey with his signature label. His edgy knitwear designs for men and women retail at the popular store Saaya in Tokyo,Japan,and he has also made inroads into Germany where he is retailing at the design house,Labenski. Vijs last collection Warriors of the Forbidden Kingdom showcased at Lakme Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2011 saw him draw inspiration from Japan as well. It was an ode to the heroes in Manga comics. I was quite fascinated by the characters and stories in Japanese animation. I could relate my knitwear designs to something these characters would wear, explains Vij. While internationally,Vij has focussed on knitwear,closer home hes equally popular for his menswear line. This season,Vij is out with a formal menswear collection that was launched at a fashion show held in Ludhiana on Thursday evening. Looking to address the forthcoming wedding season and target the grooms,Vij said,This collection is inspired from the richness of Indian culture and tradition. We are developing as a nation and there is exposure to the West,and this line presents a fusion of both. Interestingly,the show saw Vij choose his clients,togged in his latest collection,to walk for him. I made my customers walk the ramp for me as this collection is for the people we meet and see every day, he says. Unlike the dark shades of his knitwear line,this collection in royal blue,lilac and turquoise showcases the colourful side to the designers work. I have used brighter colours and mixed them with a bit of medium tones to balance the collection, says Vij. The collection offers a mix of silhouettes that are a fusion of Indian ethnic and contemporary styles. We particulary liked the semi-bandhgala jackets and coats that boast of subtle embellishments. You will also find a blend of prints and embroideries in 3D motifs in this collection, explains Vij,who will soon be opening a new store in Ludhiana soon.
