One from the art

KOCHI: “It is an ode to the craftsmen of Srikalahasti,” says Vivek Karunakaran about his collection ‘Tres Chic’. Unlike his last year’s funny and peppy resort-wear collection, this year Vivek redefined the ancient art of Kalamkari in a range of urban ensembles. “It is an interpretation of a new-age grunge chic inspired by the global traveller,” says Vivek at the grand finale of the Kingfisher Ultra Kochi International Fashion Week which concluded on Tuesday. Known for using bright and sunny colours, Vivek this year went for some darker hues for his autumn-winter collections in association with Lavazza. The designs unfolded the Kalamkari techniques in a range of layered silhouettes which portrayed Vivek’s sublime workmanship in the form of attractive surface texturing by means of pleating, gathering, top stitching and ombrey dyeing. “This year I have used maroon, burnt orange, wine, black and grey colours in the garment. They are given folds, layering and panelling for an exquisite feel,” says this 31 year-old who is a regular at Lakme Fashion Week. Ask him how he feels coming back to KIFW season 2, and he says, “This is my way of giving back to the place I belong to. Though people here are getting attuned to fashion, it has to improve much more... but it has huge potential,” says Vivek who hails from Thiruvanthapuram. “The city has come a long way. More number of fashion events should take place because only when people see and see and see, will they be willing to buy,” adds Vivek who from the past several years has been based in Chennai.The designer who takes inspiration from anything and everything when asked how he rates his collections from the past, he says, “I am my own competitor. That is why this year I went entirely to experiment in Kalamkari. The amount of hardwork that goes into Kalamkari work is amazing but unfortunately it is not getting the recognition it deserves. To get noticed in the international market, it is necessary to use Kalamkari innovatively in western outfits,” he says.Vivek has dressed up celebrities like Sonam Kapoor, Lisa Ray, Anil Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Leander Paes, Yves Allegro, Mahesh Bhupathi, A R Rahman,,Sonakshi Sinha, Nagarjuna, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Chiyaan, Vikram, Mohanlal, Tammanah, Nayantara and Mamta Mohandas to name a few. Why is it the case that many talented Malayalis, especially in the field of fashion, end up making it big only when they move out of Kerala? “To make it big one needs passion and creativity. As our state does not provide that much opportunity, one seeks the market outside. There we get recognition. Our work also finds the best evaluators,” says Vivek.