Five years ago,when Delhi-based Amit Aggarwal launched his label Morphe,he had,in his own words,set out without a module. That didnt stop him from developing a signature style of blending forms,shapes and materials,including diaphanous fabrics,to come up with futuristic,structured outfits. He blazed into the scene,earning applause and numerous awards. Today,the 31-year-old is set to take the story forward with the launch of his new label. I am ready for newer challenges. One of them is leaving Morphe behind to start a new label that I will launch by August, he reveals. The company Creative Impex,which had partnered with him on the former label,will take over Morphe entirely,while Aggarwal will launch his signature label,Amit Aggarwal. The move assumes significance given his rather interesting career trajectory. Alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT),Delhi,Aggarwal started out as an apprentice with Paris couturiers Seredin and Vasilev. This helped him hone skills for creating out-of-the-box Western forms,such as the use of exaggerated shoulders on otherwise softer silhouettes,and employing techniques like pleating. He made another strategic choice: passing up the opportunity to pursue a course at Londons prestigious fashion school Central Saint Martins to become a design assistant with Tarun Tahiliani. Tarun saw my work at my graduation show and asked me to work for him. It is a decision I will never regret because I learnt so much from him, Aggarwal recalls,referring to draping,a technique that his mentor generously employs. With his unorthodox designs that struck a balance between both the fanciful and the mundane,Aggarwal met with an overwhelming response from fashion buyers and various trade shows in Europe (London,Paris,Milan) and the Middle-East. He has also won recognition in the form of awards,such as Marie Claire Fashion Award for the Best Western-Wear Designer under 10 years and Avant-Garde Designer by Elle magazine,and a Grazia award for young designers this year. But Aggarwal insists that he is not consciously seeking success,even though he will continue to dwell on his trademark style. I will make my creations more approachable and blend in more reality by incorporating the crafts and skills of India in a modern way, he explains. Aggarwal has been invited by the Arken Museum of Modern Art,Copenhagen to exhibit his creations in August this year as part of India Today/Copenhagen Tomorrow,a Danish-Indian project. For my new label,I am setting out without a module. Of course,I wont replicate anything thats already done. The key is to love what one does and never stop being anxious because anxiety is a driving force in itself, he says.
