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Pretty ‘Wirk’

Mandira Wirk loves the learning process that comes with one-on-one interaction

Photo: Renuka Vijay Kumar

The right mix Mandira Wirk

If you can look beyond the pretty face, you’ll see a gamut of colours, a range of cuts and styles, some unusual prints and loads of talent waiting to surge ahead. But seriously, you’ll have to take your eyes off the designer first!

While designer Mandira Wirk believes her strengths are her use of colours, a glance at her collection will prove that it’s also the meticulous detailing that goes into each piece that makes if different from the copy cats. The saris for example, are elegant with classy yet heavily embellished blouses. The blouses, some with sexy backs, in chiffon are covered in fluted work and take 3 days each to make. The other pieces in the collection currently being shown in the city, include tunics, printed dresses, (the screen prints are also designed by her), saris, indo-western outfits and flowy skirts with bustiers.

Even after a stint at the Pearl Academy in Delhi and the London School of Fashion, she believes that there is a lot that fashion school doesn’t teach you. “It doesn’t teach you costing and trends and what works and what doesn’t. There are many things you have to learn the hard way and I’m still learning,” she says

According to industry standards, Mandira’s pretty nascent to the field- about seven years into it, in spite of which she has shown at three fashion weeks, has been commercially successful and is as well known in Singapore as their favourite regional designer, none of which have let her creative interests slip. “The designing I do is a mix of what I want to make and what is commercially viable,” she says adding that thanks to varied exposure, people have become receptive to trying out new styles and designs, which helps broaden a designer’s creativity.

Despite being one of those who believes in the importance of a fashion show, Mandira loves the idea of a one-on-one interaction with her clients. She travels with her collection simply because of the learning process that comes with it. “I love to meet with my clients because it gives me an idea as to what the people in the city want. The one-on-one interaction helps me judge and cater to their tastes better. What I can learn this way is something no one else can tell me,” she says.

RENUKA VIJAY KUMAR

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