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EASY CHIC A model in one of Shantanu and Nikhil’s creations

Not even a decade into the business, and the New Delhi-based brothers have already staked their claim to the country’s fashion almanac for their unwavering emphasis on silhouettes. “Yes, silhouettes are our strong point,” smile the duo, who make their Chennai debut at Studio Saks, Gopalapuram, today.

“We haven’t changed our philosophy with regard to silhouettes – and never will. It’s the key element in our design. We stick to beautiful drapes that accentuate a woman’s form,” they say. Educated abroad (Nikhil studied fashion design at Los Angeles, while Shantanu did his MBA at Ohio), the two forged a creative partnership in their label Shantanu and Nikhil in 1999. Today, their clientele runs like a roaster of celebrities.

Talking about their foray into Chennai, they say, “Chennai is becoming an interesting market in terms of buying pattern. There is a burgeoning band of young, confident women that goes with our line of Western silhouettes with Indian textural connotations. We’ve used laser-cut leather appliqué to go with the slinky cuts. This season we have to think rich when it comes to colour and fabric to add tactile interest to our clothes. So we’ve used vintage greens and citrus orange, besides S&N’s all-time favourite chocolate for our diffusion and couture lines. Tops, tunics, dresses and saris (Rs 6, 000 onwards) come in luxurious crepe, satin and georgette.”

Creative partnership Shantanu and Nikhil

Talk about trends, and the answer is quick. “As designers, you are blessed either to create trends or simply follow them. We fall into the first category. When we did Amitabh Bachchan’s clothes for Kaun Banega Crorepathi 2, it had avid followers. The sporty chic of Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh too found many takers. It was the second season of Crorepathi – so the look had to be young and refreshing. We went for big collars and if you had noticed, the styles were a throwback to the Seventies – to his Don days. As for the cricketers, they are huge role models in our country. So we had to take their ‘look’ seriously. It was imperative that the styles had to be bang-on and easy.”

Totally clued in to the market, they say, “Indian fashion is not going too far on the global map. But designers from the West will continue to draw from Eastern influences. Media and travel have helped marry cultures in a seamless way. The future is not about my country – but my world. So the essence of one’s life and style would be about mixing and matching diverse cultures and influences. With the market opening up and several international labels and fashion houses making an entry here, the real challenge for Indian designers would be to raise the bar and counter competition – particularly in the prêt category.”

Known for complementing each other’s strengths and taking their business forward, the style bhais smile, “We think alike. There can’t be a better partnership. We have understood our strengths and balance out the creative and commercial aspects of our business accordingly.”

Differences? “Even spouses can have differences. But the solution lies in respecting each other’s space and freedom.”

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