Dance in The Rain-Mijwan Sonnets in Fabrics 2012
Rain…… Rain……. Rain everywhere….. Mumbai was in deluge. And lovers of Kaifi, friends of Shabana and supporters of Mijwan were waiting eagerly to witness another landmark show, soaked in rain.
Monday September 3rd when Mumbai was fighting a fierce battle with rains, Hotel Grand Hyatt was about to witness a dance with a difference in solidarity with Mijwan Welfare Society.
Ms. Shabana Azmi with her trusted lieutenant Ms. Namrata Goyal lead MWS from the front and organized MIJWAN SONNET ON FABRICS 2012 showcasing Mr. Manish Malhotra’s creations based on Mijwan Embroidery for the third time in a row.
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Manish Malhotra’s Interview
- What is the difference between style and fashion?
Ans: Fashion is transient; style is timeless.Fashion faux pas happen when there is an inherent lack of style.But it is possible to develop style over time. Its important not to be a slave to fashion and instead invest in developing style that has an individual stamp.
How you wear is even more important than what you wear?
- In what way has your style statement evolved over the years?
Ans: It has changed with the times but continues to be influenced by Hindi films. I was a huge Mumtaz fan.I liked heroines to be voluptious saucy and sexy and Mumtaz epitomised that.Earlier heroines were women and they were expected to be formally dressed all times ,not a hair out of place. Today when I dress Sonam in ‘I hate love stories’ I have to make sure she carries casual chic straight out of life. I put Kareena in a tshirt and salwar in Jab We Met and because Kareena is Kareena it becomes the rage. It was inconceivable 20 years ago that a heroine could dress like that!But things that remain constant in my work are soft and flowing fabrics and feminine allure. I like women to look like women not tomboys
- In the global world of Fashion where do you think India stands?
Ans: Right there amongst the best. Bollywood is the flavour of the times. I have clients who show me videos and insist on getting clothes like the stars are wearing. Life is no longer influencing fashion.Fashion is influencing lives. I like to maintain Indianness in my clothes.if we start working from a position of strength that comes from drawing from our roots rather than aping Western designers we will never go wrong. The West is learning that India is glamorous and that the sari is the sexiest garment in the whole wide world.
- Tell us about your involvement with Mijwan? How did it start? What are your future plans for Mijwan?
Ans: Last year at the fundraiser for Mijwan Welfare Society an NGO that was founded by noted film lyricist Kaifi azmi to empower the girlchild, I was introduced to the chikankari work done by the Mijwan girls. I was very impressed by their amazing embroidery. It stands up to the highest standard of craftsmanship anywhere in the world.
I have been wanting to do some socially responsible work for some time and Mijwan provided me the perfect opportunity. I have adopted Mijwan- a tiny village of only 540 people near Azamgarh UP, for a year to begin with where I will give these girls from rural India a lot of my embroidery. I see this not as an act of charity but a win win situation for both. The girls get a means of livelihood by which they can negotiate a better position for themselves in a patriarchal society. And it gives me the opportunity to showcase to the world the best that India has to offer.
In the globalised world of Fashion today its pointless to offer silhouettes to the West. They do gowns better than we can ever hope to match up. But we have craftsmanship which they do not. This is our USP and that’s what we need to focus on.
Mijwan to me is a microcosm of what India has to offer the world. We have a long history of the warp and weft of design aesthetics. Its time we rediscover ourselves and go back to our roots.
