Without Bias

Fashion to me has always been a way of life. From an early age, I fell in love with clothes. I'd doodle all sorts of collars, cuffs, wome...

Fashion to me has always been a way of life. From an early age, I fell in love with clothes. I8217;d doodle all sorts of collars, cuffs, women8217;s faces and so on, in a class room filled with children who could never imagine that an Indian fashion designer could ever exist in the future. Names like YSL, Armani and Versace were something they could only relate to on a bottle, on their mother8217;s dressing table 8212; if at all! With these surroundings, to then think about Fashion Design as a career was an eerie thought! Besides where on earth would I study? Abroad? No Way! One only heard of the US8217; to study business management or medicine at the time, and besides, one had to sit for the SAT! I did actually contemplate sitting for a SAT exam. I was lucky my parents were very supportive and actually were extremely helpful. My father, who travelled a lot, carried my portfolio to London, and in a week8217;s time called me to tell me I8217;d been admitted into Art School, where I had to do a foundation course8217; before applying forFashion school, where I wanted to do a BA8217; in design. I had mixed feelings at the time. This meant leaving home, which was sad, but the thought of actually studying8217; fashion was too amazing an opportunity to loose. This, I think, was the beginning of my love affair with the wild and glamourous world of fashion.

I8217;m glad I took this plunge into taking it on as a career. It was a gut feeling, which I instinctively followed then, and I follow now. It made me happy at the time as it makes me happy now. I have always strongly believed in doing what makes one really satisfied. I love the arts, and work8217; for me isn8217;t routine or something I have to do only to earn a living. I do it because I love it, and a long with my gut, I follow my heart and that I believe makes me design beautiful clothes.

Fashion for me today happens to be work, and work for me is a lifestyle! Clothes to accessories, accessories to interiors, are all interconnected, maybe even a stylish table layout can have very strong trends and looksfrom a season. My embroidery very often trickles onto a napkin or a place mat, which is really exciting, and always reminds me of a collection I8217;ve done in the past, or will do in the future. This I find very inspiring. Photographs are my favourite memoirs. They are like time capsules that have recorded an entire piece and mood in my life. A moment that may never come back. I really hope to bring all these together under one roof, as the Arjun Khanna way of life!

I discussed these thoughts with a dear, dear friend 8212; Nina 8212; one morning, who has always believed in my ambitious thoughts. She has a tremendously patient way of listening 8212; really listening! Which I feel helped me compile these thoughts to share. I believe creation is a way of expression, through whatever particular medium one chooses, be it clothes or interiors, or like an artist on a canvas. Paints and brushes are his tools. Fabric and thread are a designer8217;s8230;

Arjun Khanna is a fashion designer.