‘Fashion is the politest way of talking about sex…’

Dressed in an indigo blue kurta and trousers for the evening,designer Suneet Varma was a picture of casual ease.

…says designer Suneet Varma of his latest collection,as he speaks about designing for fashion weeks and films,and why Indian actors should stick to Indian wear

Dressed in an indigo blue kurta and trousers for the evening,designer Suneet Varma was a picture of casual ease. He was in Pune displaying his creations at the opening of a new showroom on Saturday. And as the show progressed,Varma’s creative impulses were evident – from the satin whites to the blues to the cheerful colour tones,each of the piece sported a different personality. Backstage,as Varma posed for photographers,he spoke about his upcoming projects and the design institute he plans to set up in New Delhi. I always wanted to teach. In fact,after I graduated from the London School of Fashion in 1986,I have been involved with training. So it only made sense to go back to teaching. The institute will be called Suneet Varma Design Institute and he plans to set it up by next year.

Currently working on the India Couture Week which is set to be showcased between July 21 and 25,Varma’s collection will be based on the Kamasutra. I don’t want to reveal much about it,but in a nutshell my collection will try to say that fashion is the politest way to talk about sex. While Varma has displayed his collection earlier in Pune,he has not retailed at any multi-designer store here yet. But I plan to retail here soon. At the show on Saturday,each design spoke of Varma’ myriad interests. One could see every perceivable aspect of fashion that the designer is inspired from – from embroidery to sequins to crystals. Varma feels that local fashion weeks are important for encouraging experimentation and getting to know the industry better. Having two fashion weeks makes a lot of sense for Pune designers. But if you want to really make a mark as a designer,then you have to be a part of the national fashion weeks like the Lakme Fashion Week.”

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After designing for Kites,Varma,for now,is steering away from designing for Bollywood. I have got a lot of offers,but I wouldn’t want to take them up for now. I have my hands full and there is so much work. Plus,I think Kites gave me a chance to work with the best in that industry. What about the absence of Indian designers at the Cannes Film Festival? I think a lot of Indian actresses don’t look great in western wear. I think barring Sonam Kapoor,who looks great in everything,Indian actresses look better in Indian dresses. They carry it off so well. I think there is nothing more beautiful than wearing a sari. It’s a huge mistake that Indian actresses make by opting not to wear Indian.”

The designer feels that his inspiration lies in his work. “It may sound too cliched,but I live to work. There are very few interests in my life. I eat well,sleep well and work all the other time. I finish 25 years in the industry this year and I don’t even feel like I have completed a decade. There is so much more to learn. My mother is a novelist,so literature,poetry and music has influenced me a lot. I remember when I was five years old,I had heard this composition – Nigaahen milaane ko jee chahta hai. I recently did a show which I had titled the same. My influences have been my parents,I have their genes after all, he smiles.

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