Namaste Holland

He’s counted among the noted couturiers of the world,having dressed Hollywood celebrities such as Beyonce,Lady Gaga (he designed the outfits recently for her You and I video) and the Royal Princess Maxima of The Netherlands. When we meet Jan Taminiau on the sidelines of the Delhi Couture Week,he’s dressed in a blue shirt and a black blazer,exuding poise and charm. The Amsterdam-based designer has been invited by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) to be a part of “Dutch Fashion Here & Now India”,an Indo-Dutch fashion collaboration programme announced recently. “I’ve always been fascinated with the Indian fashion scene and jumped at the chance when approached to be a part of the programme,” says Taminiau,with a trace of the Dutch accent. For the project,the Dutch designer will collaborate with Indian designer Suneet Varma to create a collection that will be showcased at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week on October 6.

Looking at the outfits designed by Varma and Taminiau,which were displayed at the conference announcing the Indo-Dutch tie-up,the similarities were hard to miss. Apart from the colour palette and the use of sequins,a common obsession with detail was obvious,though Taminiau’s creation was a short dress and Varma’s a cocktail sari-dress. “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the similarities myself and it strengthened my feeling that Suneet and I would get along very well,” says the 35-year-old designer,who has attended a couple of Indian fashion shows.

“While the creations are beautiful and extravagant,I was disappointed to see that most of the couture work here focuses on the wedding market,there’s no funk. Won’t a girl also want a lovely couture dress she can party in,” asks Taminiau,adding that his collection with Varma will reflect Dutch culture as well as Indian flavour.

Taminiau,who is known to make extravagant and flamboyant designs,especially with two and three-dimensional embellishments,which he has been showing at Paris Fashion Week since 2007,adds,“India already has such a colourful culture — with so many textiles to choose from. There is a lot of scope for mixing the textiles and coming up with brand new ones.”

He also makes an interesting observation about the Indian ramp. “As I saw the show,I wondered to myself regarding the shoes — Why are there no innovative shoes? Primarily,I’m a shoe guy,” says the couturier as we notice a pair of very high platform heels,studded with sequins,designed by Taminiau,displayed with his outfit.

While he’s eager to make the most of his India association,Taminiau isn’t sure about which famous Indian he’d like to dress. “I had made a list of Indian celebrities I’d like to dress,but I’ve lost it somewhere,” he said,checking his pockets. “But,I would like to dress actor Frieda Pinto and singer Norah Jones one day,” he says.