US−based designer keeps her desi roots

New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) US−based designer Sushma Patel, who is set to make her debut in Indian fashion industry with the forthcoming India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW), hasn’t forgotten her Indian roots. She says she makes sure she adds a desi touch to her creations everytime.

“This is the first time I am making my mark in Indian market with IRFW and I am very excited,” Patel, who was born in a small city in Gujarat, told IANS.

During her over 15 years of presence in the fashion industry, Patel has showcased her work at fashion weeks in New York, Paris, Dubai and Milan. She also retails from diverse destinations like Istanbul, Jamaica, Romania, Barbados, Russia, Cayman Island and Iceland.

She says it was never an intentional move to stay away from Indian fashion industry, as she was busy focussing on her international projects.

“It was never an intentional move. It’s just that I was based in the US and I was so busy over there that I never got the time to showcase my collection around the world. I always wanted to come to India and launch my line,” she said.

“I took a little longer to make my presence abroad, but now I think this was the best time to enter in India through IRFW,” added the 48−year−old.

The second edition of the fashion extravaganza, starting Nov 28, is scheduled to take place at Goa’s popular Candolim beach this year.

The designer says she has always tried to keep Indian sensibilities intact in her creations.

“I did Bucharest Fashion Week for Fashion TV and they asked me to do something like a Bollywood show. So I created a complete Indian collection. There was a bridal line with Indian touch, so I can say that I am always in touch with Indian fashion,” said Patel, who admires Indian designers, including Manish Malhotra and JJ Valaya.

For IRFW, she is set to showcase a collection titled Cupcake Massacre. The collection will have a mix of tailored jumpsuits and easy−to−wear shifts accented with chains and studs, accessorised by colour−blocked wedges and slings.

IANS 2012-11-24 17:44:21