Simply elegant

Delhi-based designers Sneh Gupta and Samta Goenka launch their label in the city

Sneh Gupta and Samta Goenka met over a decade ago. Their friendship grew stronger because of their love for fashion. A year-and-a-half ago,the Delhi-based duo decided to combine their talents and launched their label called Snehsamta an amalgamation of their names. Aimed at designing classic traditional womenswear,the label supplies to major stores across India,and has now entered the Pune market. Their garments will be showcased at Raro,Koregaon Park,today. The highlight of the festive collection on display is the authentic chikankari work,a style of embroidery introduced by the Mughals in Lucknow. A baby pink anarkali kurta steals the show with embroidery work and cuff sleeves.

The duo stress on using natural fabrics such as silk and cotton,but also use a lot of georgette in their garments. I have used some net in my work,especially as jackets on kurtas or lehengas. When it comes to net,you have to think before wearing it during the winters,which is not very far. But with georgette,you can wear it all through the year; its an all-season fabric, says Goenka.

Keeping in mind that the festive season will soon be followed by the wedding season,the designers have included a range of trousseau pieces in their collection. Ankle-length anarkalis with a lot of ghera,short kurtas teamed with sheer net jackets,and net skirts are much in vogue with the modern brides who dont want to be weighed down with heavy garments during wedding functions.

The brides nowadays want to actively participate in their wedding functions rather than sit at one place,all dolled up. So,they look for garments that make them stand out,and also keep them comfortable on the most important day of their life. We have a trousseau line with light yet classy garments to choose from, says Goenka.

In a way,say the duo,their festive line is an extension of their previous collection,which was inspired by the grandeur of the Rajwadas. Intricate embroidery based on floral themes flow gracefully over pure natural fabrics in a variety of festive colours including red,orange,green,blue and purple,among others. The detailing is done with Swarovski crystals,mirror and zardozi work. All outfits are simple yet sophisticated,which is our signature style. We leave it to the person who will wear our outfit to decide how she wants to wear it. She can glam it up or tone it down with the right kind of accessories. I personally feel that a good pair of earrings can make all the difference, says Goenka.

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