Rajesh Pratap unveils first collection with Shingora

Ace fashion designer Rajesh Pratap Singh's first collection with luxury textile brand Shingora was showcased here Thursday.

The designer, who recently paid tribute to weavers in the denim industry, has created a capsule collection of 35 designs in scarves and stoles using luxurious fibres like premium wool and merino cashmere.

"Old Indian techniques have been converted into contemporary designs with Rajesh's signature on them like ajrak printing technique but using in contemporary context. We are trying to make people aware of what India has. There is enough within India to use in fashion. Why should we look at west alone?" Shingora's CEO Amit Jain told IANS.

He says that the first collection took long as they had to understand his design sensibility and the designer had to familiarise himself with their manufacturing practices. But now they are positive about the collection's response.

"With interesting concepts and new ideas...mixing skulls (prints) with ethnic Indian things, I am sure it will appeal to people," said Jain.

Singh, who has been doing scarves from day one, is already "happy with the response".

"Tying up with Shingora...they specialise in this category and we were really happy and jumped on to it. When I was designing the collection, it was separate for men and women.

"Last few days, I showed it to select buyers and people in the trade and a lot of men's styles were liked by women, so that was a big crossover. Men pieces were picked up by girls and vice-versa," he said.

Basic jamavar was used and then the initial jamavar motifs were taken and "twisted them into something modern and what younger clients can relate to".

"You can see heads, patchwork, jungle and birds. I do a lot of ajrak prints, so I took a few techniques and twisted," he said.

The association is not limited to this season.

"We have finished our winter line. We will start summer and festive lines soon. Every six months we are coming out with a new collection," said Singh.