The sari story

Designing saris was a far removed goal until last year. “As a costume designer for events such as the Trinidad and Tobago carnival and the Notting Hill (London) carnival,I have designed elaborate,shiny and feathery outfits. But this time around,I wanted to cater to the modern Indian woman,” he says.

His line comprises saris made using silk and elastine with lycra blouses lending a sporty look. But what’s really interesting is the use of bold vector graphic prints that are his digital interpretation of the weaving process.

“The streaks of colour are inspired by the way threads in a handloom criss-cross each other. Also,these easy-to-wear,hand-finished saris have pallus that fold back on themselves,” he explains. The colour of saris range from darker hues such as black,beige and brown to the brighter variety (pink and yellow) and clients can customise a sari according to colour.

Khan also stresses that the collection was his way of reaching out to an Indian audience. “I am not crazy about fashion on its own; instead I want to combine technology and fashion. The fact that I was catering to Indian women was an added incentive,” says the design expert,who counts India as one of his major influences.

Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago,Khan is often mistaken for an Indian. “When I first came to India in the ’90s,the country served as an inspiration for my Bollywood show called Moti Roti Patli Chunni. Then in 2004,the call centre culture in Bangalore made me come up with the production Alladeen. But only now have I ended up showcasing my work in India,” he says.

Does he plan to show in India more often? Khan replies in the affirmative. “After the overwhelming response my sari line has received,I hope to continue my association with Bungalow 8. It will again be a sari line,albeit with more Indian elements such as embroidery,” he says.