Fashion Conscience

Soumitra’s latest collection,which will be shown at the Linen club fashion show in Hyderabad this Sunday,is in keeping with his “design philosophy”. “It’s unpretentious and very earthy. Linen is one of my favourite fabrics and I love its versatility and since it’s a summer collection I could use the fabric to the best possible advantage,” says Mandal.

The Linen collection will also be his first collection “focusing on menswear”. Till now,Soumitra made women’s wear pret and designed trousseaus for his local customers in Kolkata. “I have designed for men before but as an afterthought. This collection is more about menswear,” says Mondol. So,there will be linen bandhgalas,jodhpurs and of course,suits. “One section of the collection is completely in white and I’m excited about that,”says Mandal. However,Mandal has decided to stay away from showing his collections at fashion weeks for the time being. “I have been a part of the grind and believe you me it needs a lot more organisational skill than creativity. To take part in both editions of a fashion week requires a lot of discipline and fixed way of working,until I have that in place I have decided to stay away from such events,” says Mandal.

As of now,he is busy doing groundwork. His work with weavers of Phulia village in Nadia district who specialise in the jamdani style of weaving,has given a new lease of life to the dying art form.“I have about 70 weavers working under me ,who are all gifted artisans in their own way. If I manage to set up a system through which these gifted people manage to sustain themselves and preserve their distinct art form I will consider myself blessed,” says Mandal