Lavanya, Sutradhar 2025

Her interest in Rococo began with a visit to France. Rococo emerged in Paris in the 18th century, an art of romantic scenes and aristocratic leisure, and its fashion meant long ball gowns in pastel colours. Lavanya decided to be different, keeping her outfits short and eye-catching, with a slightly darker colour theme.

She began with research into Rococo fashion: its elegance, colour, playful asymmetry and C and S shapes. From Rococo interiors she designed her own motifs, turned them into a pattern and had it printed on bridal satin. Rococo-inspired flowers, pearls and beads make the outfits look rich.

Then came the sketches, the cutting and the stitching, with plenty of experimentation. Sometimes the result did not match the drawing and sometimes the design was not right. She kept going, because she wanted the collection to look different from the original style and still feel like it: not only a theme, but a designer's own point of view.