Shivan and Narresh, Delhi-based designer duo famed for their creative resort wear will showcase their latest collection titled ‘Patu Series’ at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019. A fusion of Indian art and modern silhouettes, the collection captures the sublime elements of Bengal’s Pattachitra art and juxtaposes it with the intrinsic Tholu Bommalata leather puppetry of Andhra Pradesh. The Patu Series, is a seamless melange of the two tribal art forms, reveals Shivan Bhatiya, head designer at Shivan and Narresh. “Pattachitra depicts the tribal art of Bengal and the Tholu Bommalata art renders shadow puppetry on leather, which is the foundation for the series. The key highlights of this line are six new prints — Panthera, Sunderbans, Iconorosh, Fagun, Urvi, and Deccan — rendered on this season’s swim, resort and celebration silhouettes,” he elaborates. He adds, “Andhra’s Tholu Bommalata consorts from local ballads and Hindu folklore are vibrantly showcased through shadow puppetry, rendered on leather silhouettes. Taking inspiration from the same, Iconorosh, one of our key prints has been conceptualised to illustrate fantastical animals and mythical beings while stringing a story of good over evil.”

Speaking about the extensive research and execution behind this collection, Narresh Kukreja, creative director at the brand reveals how it took almost three months for the design team to create this line. “Given the primary inspiration for the collection, we looked into works of local artists to get a better understanding of the art and its processes. The motifs created for the prints were unique and distinctive. To do justice to the essence of the craft, we travelled to Bengal and met local artists. We engaged with one artist in our design studio and developed the print elements and characters with his assistance. These characters were then given our colours and details and patterned into our signature prints for the season and were turned into pieces of attire for Patu Series within three months. The Patu Series presents signature prints of the season illustrated effectively on the key ensembles against a colour palette of Rosh (Deep Vermilion), Indigo, Slate (Black), Pepe (Peach), Som (Amber) and Wheat (Flesh),” Narresh explains.

The design label is known for its ultra mod designs for the young and the beautiful, and this line is an extension of the philosophy for the jet-setting and art-loving millennials.

With regard to the target audience, Narresh says, “As designers, we always look forward to an innovative design table that challenges and places us out of our comfort zones. Both homegrown art forms are extremely technique-driven and are mastered by local artists practising the craft for more than a decade. Our signature prints of the season have been designed keeping the essence of the art in mind, and subsequently, rendered on the fabric to create a millennial dream of swimwear, resort wear and celebration wear. To cater to the travel and holiday lifestyle of the demographic, we have the designs with modern silhouettes to create the refreshing ensembles from R|Elan™ fabrics. It’s a heady mix of organza and crepe combined with inventive construction techniques — work with delicate organza, ruffles with flowy fabrics, frayed raffia among others to create a decadent holiday universe for millennials.”

At the show, scheduled for February 2, the ramp and the mood will be a depiction of intense narration as can be experienced in the form of shadow puppetry, informs Shivan.