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Just straight and simple

Amanda Bachalli favours straight cuts and subtle detailing

PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

GREATER LEEWAY Amanda Bachalli: `There is more potential with Western clothes to push the envelope'

Amanda Bachalli has the sweetest solution to customise jeans. "Everyone wears jeans, the only way to stand out is to do something to them — embroidery or embellishments. What I do is fold them up and they are comfortable and chic." And don't worry about them bunching up around the calves as the jeans "are lightweight and tapered."

Amanda's collection that was showcased at the red carpet evening at The Leela Galleria was all about "flirty silhouettes. My designs reflect an individual style. It is sexy, fun and for the young at heart."

Amanda did her schooling in Chennai. "I love drawing and painting and was always interested in fashion. At that time there was NIFT only in Delhi and my parents were not very keen on sending me so far away. So I studied fine arts for three years and when NIFT opened in Chennai, I studied fashion design for three years."

Amanda interned at Swear and got a job offer after graduation. "It is a sporty brand and I worked with a lot of knits for one and a half years. I also taught fabric studies and history of fashion at Shristi School of Design and at NIFT." Talking about the history of fashion, Amanda says: "Indian fashion is still very young. Not so with Indian costume, which is all about drapes and has been evolving since forever."

In the beginning, Amanda enjoyed teaching. "I thought it would be exciting, as I would be interacting with young people who would have fresh ideas but I later figured while there were new students every year, I was saying the same stuff and so I quit."

Amanda decided against working as a designer with any of the brands. "I had seen my friends go down that path and they had to follow market dictates without much room to experiment. Even though I hate anything to do with numbers, I realised one has to be thorough with merchandising to make designing work and so I worked for three and a half years with Tesco and learnt all there is to know about merchandising and I was ready to set up my own label."

Amanda first started a label with a friend but when she realised that two heads are sometimes not better than one, "I started Amanda," and since then there has been no looking back. Designing for her label has been a "nice experience. It is all about balancing your taste with that of others. I prefer doing western clothes as they talk about where I am coming from. There is more potential with Western clothes to push the envelope. They can look funky and acceptable — that leeway is not available with Indian clothes."

While Amanda has thought about designing for film, she has not done anything much about it as "my clothes are all about cut and colour. It is about minimalism, even the embellishments are minimal." Amanda's Spring Summer 06 collection features "a lot of mix n matches, strappy tops and short skirts. The look is combination of bohemian and nautical. For party wear I have the salsa look with asymmetrical hemlines. I use a lot of white, as it is a fast moving colour option. Other colours include pastels, black, red and dusky rose."

For the gentlemen, Amanda has low waist tapered trousers and fitted shirts.

Colours include whites and dark colours. "I have done tonnes of French cuffs, contrast cuffs and subtle detailing." Pink is in and there are loads of delicate pinks for men.

Amanda loves fashion shows for "the fun of putting it all together and for instant feedback." And to the million-dollar question, is Bangalore the fashion capital? "I moved to Bangalore for work. I find the people willing to try out new things. I don't think I am ready for the pace of Mumbai. Right now I am happy here."

Amanda's clothes are available at Cocoon at Leela Galleria and the Park Hotel. For personal appointments at Studio Amanda, call 99450-15369

MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER

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