If an architectural cage bustier or a blingy cape excite you, then fashion designer Krésha Bajaj brought just that and more to her two-day Hyderabad showcase. Held at The Quorum, presentation brought together the past, present and future of the brand, offering a glimpse into its archives, recent work and what lies ahead. The edit revisited some of KB’s signature pieces, at the centre of the showcase was Epoque, her latest collection along with Krésha Bajaj Homme, her menswear line. CE speaks to her about the showcase, her evolving design language, the growing demand for comfort and individuality in festive fashion, and what’s next for the label.
Excerpts
Tell us more about show’s concept.
I’m actually coming back to Hyderabad after three years. The concept of the showcase is divided into the past, present and future. The past features pieces from our archives — our signature pieces that we have brought back and recreated. The present includes several pieces from DFW (Dubai Fashion Week), with a lot of Western, edgy and avant-garde designs. The future is Epoque, the collection I am launching now. I also have my menswear here for the first time. So, you are essentially entering our world and seeing different facets of everything we are doing, along with Alok Loda jewels. I feel our brands have such great synergy and complement each other really well. The archival pieces have all our signatures, including our cape, which is one of the pieces I started with. We also have a lot of our corsets and a version of the Love Story lehenga, which is, of course, how I launched the brand.
Tell us about Epoque.
The concept behind Epoque is a twist on traditional pieces. When you have a lehenga, you traditionally have a blouse and a dupatta, but not everyone wants to wear it that way. You may want to style it with a cool little chiffon piece instead. So, the collection is designed in a way that allows you to mix and match the pieces. As separates, they also work beautifully with your existing wardrobe. I feel that nowadays, nobody wants to feel weighed down by what they are wearing. So, we have put a lot of emphasis on creating lighter and more wearable pieces.
What inspired you to venture into menswear?
My dad, Kishor Bajaj was in menswear. He had a label called Badasaab, which was around for a very long time. He really wanted me to take over the brand, but I procrastinated for two years because it was a big task to follow in his footsteps and continue his legacy. But I had to do it, so I did. It is elevated formalwear — clothes that men really want to wear. Unfortunately, I feel a lot of menswear has been an afterthought. People design for women and then take the same motif and put it on a sherwani or a bandi. Men don’t want that. Men want something that is designed specifically for them. That was the idea behind the collection. It is called The Smoking Room and is inspired by old-school vintage smoking rooms, where men would dress up, socialise and enjoy being in a beautifully tailored suit. It is for the man who simply loves to dress the part.
Coming back to Hyderabad, how has the city been a part of your journey?
Hyderabad is my favourite city in the whole world. I came here a lot when I started my career to meet clients, and I also did a few styling gigs here. The kind of love I received here was unmatched. I have had a lot of milestone moments in Hyderabad and have met some of my closest friends here.
You have dressed several celebrities. Who is your favourite person to dress and why?
My muse, my best friend and my sister, Samantha Ruth Prabhu. She is a chameleon. She can transform into anything and everything, and I think that is very special. You can put her in a suit and she can look super chic. You can put her in a saree and she looks ethereal. You can put her in a super-sexy outfit and she turns into a vixen. She is amazing.
With the festive season around the corner, what fashion trends do you see emerging this year?
What is really interesting about this year is the kind of content we are consuming and the amount of doom-scrolling we do. Once upon a time, clients wanted to dress like a campaign or a celebrity. They would see someone wearing an outfit and immediately want the same thing. I think that has changed because everyone now wants to express their individuality. In terms of trends, I think less is more. Comfort is key.
What’s happening next?
I have Dubai Fashion Week coming up on October 22, and I am very excited about it. You are going to see something that is very KB and very me, but also very different including soft colours and edgy silhouettes.