Designing for a cause

BANGALORE: How about spreading some joy while you shop for that ultimate party dress. While the women in the city scramble for stylish designer wear, one designer has decided to do more than just create trendy clothes. Twenty five per cent of the sales made from designer Julie Kagti’s the Razzle Collection will be used to take students from Vidya Bhavishyayan School, an NGO for empowerment of underprivileged children to the Bannergatta Zoo. The zoo was on top of the children’s wish list for  the new year.“Making any child happy mine, yours or theirs, is monumental in terms of ROI, not return on investment but return on ‘injoyment’” says Julie Kagti, one of India’s most ecologically and culturally sensitive designers. “Picnicking at Bannerghatta National Park is probably an over the top activity for these children when compared to our city-bred brood,” she laughs. Kagti is hopeful that from the sale that will extend till mid-January, she will be able to sponsor a field trip for the children.Her collection is a mix of bright and colourful hues tastefully combined with delicate hand embroidery and subtle embellishments. Her silhouettes are a melange of East and West that instead of hugging the body, flows over it while accentuating only what is desired. Crafted from natural fabrics, Kagti has used a lot of raw silk and cotton silk for her line. “I love natural fabrics. I prefer them over the synthesised fabrics. I guess it has a lot to do with the era and time that I was brought up in. Back then it was cool to be ethnic. Natural fabrics have an undefeated and eternal charm about them,” says the designer.From bright yellows and pinks to cool blues and greens, she has cleverly used the colours and various dying technique to achieve the contemporary chic. While the shift dresses are more common, Kagti has also designed a few fitted garments. “I design for the woman who knows what she wants. Though I do design for the younger generation, I enjoy creating styles that would flatter and suit woman in their 30’s. These are women who have understood themselves and their needs,” explains Kagti. The designer has gone easy on the embellishments with only a dash of it here and there. While her fascination for Kantha was quite evident, she has also used patches of a few garments. “One of the reasons I like Kantha is because of its play with lines. Though Indian, it has a contemporary feel to it,” she says. The Razzle collection unlike her previous collection exhibits a play with lines and linear structures. From the embroidery to the colour blocking to the patch work.More than a decade into the industry, the weaver-turned-designer says she loves ‘constructing’ the fabric and the garment. As a weaver her understanding of the nuances of weaving have helped her create beautiful and elegant pieces. “India is a country that is rich in culture and heritage. We have exquisite fabrics and textiles that have put the country on the global map,” she says. Speaking of her love for fabrics Kagti, is probably one of the most environment conscious designers in the industry. While designers play with fabrics and styles, there is a lot of material that ends up going into the bin. Kagti on the other hand, reuses most of the left overs. “I combine the material and re-dye them to get the desired look and texture. The end product is phenomenal,” she informs. When questioned about the response for such garments Kagti says that they sell like hot cakes.The collection is available at her store at the Hatwork Boulevard and is priced at ` 2,500 onwards.