Japanese designer 'jolted into wow' with Indian designs

A brief visit to a high-end mall here was all it took for Japanese designer Atsushi Nakashima to decide that he wanted to incorporate traditional Indian embroidery in his art.

Nakashima was struck by the fact that the mall, like many others anywhere in the world, had international brands like Louis Vuitton but it also housed stores showcasing traditional Indian designs on the top floor.

"In Japan, although we have the wonderful attire in the form of the kimono, it is no longer worn everyday. It was interesting for me to see how traditional Indian crafts, prints and silhouettes were still alive," Nakashima, whose autumn-winter collection was showcased Friday at the Lotus Make-Up India Fashion Week here, told PTI.

Having travelled to several countries, he said he admired their unique design traditions. But with Indian designs, he said he was "jolted into a wow".

"In India, I really felt a spark with all the traditional crafts, and as a designer I look forward to seeing how I can interpret Indian embroidery into my designs."