Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

BEYOND THE CATWALK

PHOTOS: S. GOPAKUMAR

FUNKY LINES Lekha Rajeev's designs on the ramp

It is her oomph that sets apart Lekha Rajeev. Perhaps it has something to do with the way she carries herself, the way she talks, the way her Victoria Beckham- inspired haircut bobs to and fro, her eclectic accessories or the way her eyes twinkle wit h mischief as she talks about her preference for creating risqué clothes. And most definitely it has something to do with the way she dresses. This 25-year-old creator of the high street fashion label, Peekri, appears to have her finger on the pulse of fashion.

“When I dress up or design I like to have fun and I believe that everything goes with everything. So I throw a little bit of everything together –here a red there a blue and come out looking pretty. And most importantly I am not afraid to try something bold,” says Lekha, a former student of St. Thomas Residential School.

“Anybody who knew me in school knew that I would go into fashion because I was forever doodling designs on my note books. While in school I used to enter contests such as a card designing competition by Hallmark and won.” Yet the top-scorer chose to do science and not arts and puzzled her teachers with her choice of career. “My family especially my parents, Leela and Rajeev and my sister, Lara, though were fully supportive. In fact, they are the ones who inspired me to give the name Peekri to my label. I was their peekri (itsy-bitsy) kid who used to dress zanily,” adds the designer whose personal eclectic style is reflected in her designs for her label.

From slinky georgette silk dresses to printed silk bustier tops and flouncy skirts, the clothes in her signature label have elements of the quirky combined with an understated elegance. “My label is a young high-end one aimed at urban outgoing women. Peekri is a slang word in Malayalam which variously means someone who dresses up pretty much like a bum, is diminutive and a trifle mischievous. While I was young I actually used to be called that a lot and mind you not just for the ‘peekri’ clothes that I wear,” explains Lekha. “To me the name stands for an individualistic style. The brand means confidence, boldness of attitude, distinctiveness and uniqueness. I am also giving to the word a new meaning by bringing to it my signature style of femininity and elegance,” adds the designer who is an alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai, and has a postgraduate degree in fashion from the Birmingham City University, United Kingdom (U.K.).

Her very own haute couture collection titled ‘Junk to Jewels,’ designed as part of her Master’s curriculum; her parallel research into high street fashion (a.k.a. department store fashion of the likes of Westside, Pantaloons, Shopper’s Stop) market in U.K. and her interest in retailing put her on track to Peekri and the kind of market that she wanted to target.

Lekha soon got into ‘e-tailing.’ “I down ended my couture collection and retailed made-to-order clothes through the internet. As the name suggests these clothes were inspired by rubbish. I took things as disposable as plastic bottles and old magazines and used them as inspiration to make something beautiful; something as precious as jewels out of junk,” says Lekha who has worked as a visual merchandiser (creating store front displays to communicate the latest trends in fashion) for top stores such as Mango and Monsoon in the U.K. and as a fashion buyer in Bangalore and Chennai. For her label, Lekha likes to use a digital printing machine to print her designs onto silk material and then later hand stitching the clothes. ‘Loveletters,’ her second collection of dresses and tops which she premiered for a talent contest whilst in Birmingham, too is replete with her quirky designs meant for the upwardly mobile young woman all set for a night out in town.

But the question remains, will such high street fashion label such as Peekri with its ultra westernised designs work for the Indian market, especially Kerala? “Why not?” says Lekha. “The market for high street fashion of the really exclusive kind is just starting to pick up in India. There is none to speak off in Kerala for instance. For Indian audiences I have to change the style a bit to suit Indian tastes and look into what will sell here. Plus I love creating one of a kind saris,” adds the young designer who will soon set up shop in India.

Lekha models one of her creations from `Loveletters'

Select colours that suit your skin tone.

Wear silhouettes that complement your body shape. (Do not wear extra long skirts if you are short, unless you are pairing it with extra high heels of course!)

Do invest in a pair of good skinny jeans - dark denim - for this season. They go great with kurtas / kurtis and t-shirts.

I love short dresses with tights (footless). Brilliant for summer.

Accessorise! Funky bangles or a cool bag. But don’t overdo it.

Stay clear from the OTT (Over the top). For example, if you’re wearing a sequined-top resist wearing it with a sequined skirt.

Big faux pas - Denims with print / embroidery / tie and dye effects - always keep denim clean and classic.

Over-matching. A blue outfit does not call for blue bangles, blue footwear, blue handbag, blue earrings, a blue flowery hairclip and blue eye shadow.

Avoid too many frills and flounces in one outfit… unless you’re under five.

Do not try too hard to copy star styles. Celebrities usually have stylists who work very hard to get their look just right. Chances are trying to copy the look will mess it up.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail