Babita Malkani on Indian Fusion Wear and Styling

Babita Malkani is a name to reckon with in the Indian Fashion Industry. A fashion career spanning close to two decades with a very distinct, urban sense of styling and a high level of comfort with international fabric and styles, epitomizes the ensemble of Babita Malkani, ‘Babita M, which was launched in the year 2006.

On the global front, she has earned noteworthy exposure. She was chosen to design the winning team’s jackets for the ICC Champion’s Trophy 2009 in South Africa, and in the same year, she also showcased her collection at the Dubai Fashion Week. 

With a knack to create high fashion in a chic avatar, designer Babita Malkani marries Haute Couture, rich fabrics with vivacious cuts and drapes, in a fun, edgy and one-of-a-kind manner. With International, cutting-edge silhouettes in mind, her outfits exude a global sensibility that enhances their appeal. 

We invited Babita Malkani to conduct a Masterclass for our students to help them understand the nuances of 'Indian Fusion Wear and Styling', and she readily accepted our invitation. 

At the masterclass she explained the story behind her recent collection called ‘Talim’ and the execution of the collection. Talim refers to a written code for weaving the oriental rugs and carpets created by Kashmiris for the pattern of knotting handmade carpets. 

Babita Malkani’s travels to Kashmir inspired her to work with 'Windows of Paradise', which form an integral part of the Talim carpets prevalent in Kashmir. She explained the making of the collection to the students, which has an indo-western appeal and lays emphasis on constructed silhouettes, signature drapes along with a blend of chic crops, pencil skirts and stylized pants giving it styles to suit the modern sensibilities of today’s women. 

At the masterclass, she suggested the students to create practical, wearable, trendy and creative designs for the graduation show collection. 

Later in the masterclass, Babita asked our students to illustrate 2 designs each on the basis of practicality, wearability & trendy, out of which she selected 2 students’ design which she really felt was different and creative. 

Babita also showed our students a few techniques of how to drape a dress.

Overall, at this masterclass our students got to learn a lot from the very talented designer, while also getting a sneak peek into the rich sartorial tradition of Kashmir.

Whistling Woods School of Fashion and Design – 2015

The year 2015 has been a significant year for us! With newer innovations in the global fashion industry, with unique trends coming to the fore, our students too have played a significant role as aspirants, who eventually will join the force with their creative brilliance. Our students have creatively put in the training that they have received at our institute and has gone far and wide to gain appreciation and applaud from the fashion industry!

For us, the year 2015, started with the 2nd Edition of Future of Fashion Forum: The Future of Fashion Forum – a unique one-day event was conceptualized by Whistling Woods International School of Fashion and Design in the year 2014. The event was started with an objective to enable a conversation between aspiring fashion professionals and the industry experts. Renowned fashion professionals from across the country come to share their learning and experiences, thus offering holistic insight on the actual industry/market scenario, to the youth. This in turn also helps the experts to gauge the potential of the promising talents, who will soon emerge as the trend-makers and trend-setters in the fashion world.

Condom Couture Fashion Show: Skore Condom’s initiative to raise awareness against AIDS was not only a noble event, but also brought together young promising talents, who got the opportunity to voice their opinion on the tabooed notion of sex, through their creative brilliance! Our students created garments made of non-lubricated condoms.  The show-stopper at the event, Mugdha Godse, walked the ramp in a gorgeous attire created by our students.

1st Graduation Show – AIYANNA 2015: This event showcased the talent and expertise of our first batch of students. Our students created an entire line of collection, based on the learning they have received while pursuing the 2 year Diploma course in Fashion Design at our institute. The show was adjudged by acclaimed fashion designers, who heartily appreciated and acknowledged the brilliance and uniqueness portrayed in each of our students’ creation.

Participation in Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2015: Our students got the opportunity to showcase their creativity and talent at the very famous, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2015, Mumbai. Our students created an installation using traditional Indian textiles, handloom weaves, prints and embroideries from all the Indian states. This installation brought forth the rich heritage of Indian Handloom & Textiles and was a definite step towards promoting the Art of Indian Traditional Textile.

Overall, it's been a great year for us! As we are all set to welcome the new year, we are sure that the coming year will be even more grand and brilliant! 

Fashion for the Monsoon

“Fashion in the rains” – Sounds a little fuzzy, but if done well with proper apparels and accessories, this season offer a lot to showcase your style quotient!  Fashionistas come up with quirky fashion trends to suit the weather without compromising on comfort and style.

Light & Airy: Wear light fabrics. chiffons, malmals and georgettes are best suited for the rains. Light and airy and dries fast, just in case you get drenched!

Short & Splash: Old denim tucked in a dark corner! Get those out and cut it to get pro-weather shorts to play in the puddle. Printed or colour block capris are another option to go with, which spares you the hassle of folding up the full-length trousers!

Stylish Hair-do: Rains make hair turn dry, frizzy and dull. Cut them short for a monsoon makeover! However, if you cannot let your long flowy hair go, oil and wash them regularly and tie it in a bun or a chick high ponytail or braids.

Saviour of the Season – Umbrellas:  colourful or printed, foldable or the long ones – an umbrella is an indispensable and one of the most stylish accessories that you can swear by in the monsoon.  Strike a statement with attractive umbrellas all the way! 

Coats for the Rains: Walk in style with transparent or color-blocked raincoats. Raincoats top the list of must-haves for the rainy season. Whatever you wear, don’t forget to put on the raincoat to save yourself from getting drench and step out like a boss!

Footsy Fun: Right footwear will go a long way to let you walk in the rains without having to think twice! A pair of light flip-flop or a pair of colorful rubber gumboots can add to your style quotient in a funky way. 

Attractive Accessories:  Bright neon colored waterproof bags and belts, colorful scarves, funky hair pins, wristbands to add an extra style quotient.

This monsoon, with funky and colourful wearable, enjoy the rains like never before.

Significance of millinery and accessory design

The word ‘millinery’ immediately transports you to the bygone era, doesn’t it? After all, millineries are typically the antiquated artisans whose skill sets were passed down from one generation to the other. But, as years passed by this art started fading away, and was clubbed with accessory designing.

In fact, today accessory designing encompasses four items:

              -          Bags

              -          Footwear

              -          Jewellery, and

              -          Millinery

The person involved in accessory designing takes care of things right from developing the concept to the production.

For this, designers are expected to look at the creative process by gathering research to generating ideas into a product line. 

Also, as an accessory designer one has to specialise in construction techniques and the essential tools of the trade, which are different from dress designing.

Largely, the products are based on 2D pattern and 3D modelling techniques, which explain in detail the required prototyping.It is observed that accessory designing encompasses the old and new techniques. It is based across aspects such as hand-finishing and machine embellishment techniques.

Accessory designing requires finesse and a deep understanding of the subject. This is especially true for milliners. For instance, when milliners are making bespoke hats, they have to meet the client directly to discuss their requirements. They also need to be perfect while taking measurements.

Further, all accessory designers including milliners are closely involved in choosing the core elements such as fabrics and other raw materials. After this, designers trim the fabrics and add necessary details to enhance the look. In case of hats, the fabric might need some hand steaming into shape orcorrection with a hydraulic machine, in case of mass-production. This method of adding finishing touch is called blocking.

In short, accessory designers and milliners are key to the industry for they bring specialised skill set, such as:

• Creative and imaginative eye with good artistic skills

• Good understanding of proportion, fabrics and design

• Deep understanding of technical processes, good communication and business skills

Fashion institutes like Whistling Woods Neeta Lulla School of Fashion enable to be adept and skilled in millinery and accessory design and bring a whole new dimension to your career in fashion.

Understanding Editorial Fashion

If you understand words like culottes, tuli tops, moccasins like A, B, C or if you have an eye and ear to spot fashion trends, then it’s time you opened doors to a career in editorial fashion.

Editorial fashion is about spotting trends from various sources and giving informed decision to your readers. Many fashion bloggers and journalists are now becoming editorial fashion specialists.

Yes, it’s a glamorous job, but one always needs to be on the cue and have a tenacity to spot these trends. Here, are few pointers to get you started…

Sport the right attitude

To be the voice of fashion, one needs to have a sound reputation. This will only come through knowledge, determination, focus and patience. So, whatever you do…write or research approach it with passion and aim to create a niche for yourself. In this fast-paced world of fashion, it is important to have an edge so as to stand outfrom the competition. Further, it's keyfor you to be a good listener and leaner. As an editorial fashion writer, it’s essential that you train yourself continuously. Finally, always keeps smiling and be upbeat about things. Everyone loves to interact with happy and energetic people.

Set targets:

As a starting point, it’s important to have a clear idea about what you want to achieve in the long run. This will give you a defined path and a chance to make every new opportunity brilliant. It's also a good way to stay motivated during those dull days.

Get a strong foundation

Passion is of course the key in editorial fashion. But, along with passion it’s important to have the right experience.The best way to start is by working with established bloggers or fashion publications. This will help you understand the dos and don’ts of spotting trends and its analysis.

Networking

To grow in the fashion industry, it’s important to have good contacts with retailers, store managers, bloggers and journalists. The fashion industry thrives on building the right contacts; so don’t shy away from networking. Remember, it’s okay to make the first move; as you never who might open the right door for you.

  

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of knowledge. It’s important to learn the basics of fashion, its history and the evolution. So, immerse yourself in the world of fashion by understand the industry as a whole. You can look for schools like Whistling Woods Neeta Lulla School of Fashion that will give you a good grounding in the fashion industry. 

Insight in the Field of Fashion Merchandising

Fashion merchandising as a career is gaining prominence in the contemporary fashion industry. Knowledge is power, therefore, before entering the field of Fashion Merchandising it is best be aware about the field. And, to get you started, here are some insights in the creative field of Fashion Merchandising.

What is Fashion Merchandising?

Fashion Merchandising is a board term that encompasses the business side of the fashion industry, from retail to advertising. It involves buying, pricing, marketing, displaying, and selling apparels or accessories.

What is the role of a Fashion Merchandiser?

The role of a Fashion Merchandiser is diverse and vast. Their responsibility is to get the right merchandise, in the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantities. A Fashion Merchandiser is also a buyer who selects what items will be stocked in a store. This merchandiser is, thus, expected to have basic understanding of the fashion history, market trends and customer sensibility. A Fashion Merchandiser also plays a key role in deciding the pricing and marketing strategy of a brand.

                              

What it takes to be a Fashion Merchandiser?

For one, a merchandiser should have a knack for understanding the creative side of fashion designing along with having a head for business. Then, a merchandiser must also have good knowledge about styling, advertising, marketing and brand management.

How to be a Fashion Merchandiser?

Undertaking formal education in a fashion school like Whistling Woods- Neeta Lulla School of Fashion is the first step in building a career in the field of Fashion Merchandising. In a fashion school like Whistling Woods- Neeta Lulla School of Fashion, an aspiring merchandiser will gain knowledge key aspects of merchandising like visual, retail, export, which covers the vast field of ‘Fashion Merchandising.’    

Techniques and Importance of Pattern Drafting

Pattern Drafting is an important part of fashion designing and requires immense skills and practice. Pattern drafting is where pattern pieces are drawn on paper according to body measurement which becomes the foundation for designers to create garments. There are several techniques that professionals use, some of them are:

Tracing: This is one of the simplest technique that is used. In this technique a garment (similar to what a designer wishes to create) is placed flat on a paper and the pattern is traced. Some space is left to add seam of the garment. The tracing technique works best for garments with minimum shapes and is one of the best technique for beginners.

Creating a Sloper: This is a slightly complicated technique in pattern drafting. Slopers, also referred to as ‘block patterns’ or ‘fitting shells’, are extremely close-fitting garments with no ease movement. A sloper is the building block from which a designer can create any number of patterns. There are two ways to acquire a sloper: one is to find numerous free sloper patterns online or can be created from scratch. Creating a sloper from the scratch requires a good knowledge for math and geometry.

Software: Nowadays, professionals mostly use softwares to create pattern drafting. Some of the best softwares that professionals use are DesignSew, Pattern Master, Gerber Accumark, and more that are introduced in the industry every day.

These techniques for pattern drafting have been followed by professionals for quite a while now. But pattern drafting as a profession is still in its nascent stages. Even though some of the techniques have been used for decades. However, things are changing for the aspiring designers. Today pattern drafters are gaining importance in the world of fashion designing. There are various avenues that are opening up as observed by Amol Chettiar, Faculty of Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion. He says, “Pattern drafters are the architects of fashion designing and tailors are the one that make the designers dream come true. Designers, today have realized this which has led to various career opportunities like a consultant pattern drafter, professional pattern grader, and garment technologist.” 

Watch this video to, learn what industry experts have to say about a career in pattern drafting.