Fashion queen

A WOMAN of style and substance - that's what can be said about designer Nandita Mahtani, who was in the city recently to showcase her creations in western and fusion wear at `also' boutique, White House building, Begumpet (Tel: 23412047). Look at her and you would prefer to believe that she is either a model or a star-to-be. Dressed casually in military green hipsters and an off-white embroidered spaghetti top, the designer is quite in with it.

Her interest in "clothes and anything related to fashion" made Nandita source clothes for the young-and-hip crowd initially. Later, she started her own showroom, Ananya, in Bandra, Mumbai. The growing popularity of her store made her open another outlet for the Delhiites about three years ago. "In fact, my sister and myself are working together. She opened a store in London two years ago and I am sourcing out things for her. Actually, I'm also retailing my stuff in certain departmental stores abroad," says Nandita.

How did she think of Hyderabad to display her clothes? "My experience in Delhi was pretty good and so I wanted to try out a new city. Hyderabad is definitely an upcoming city - from what I heard and what I have seen in these two days - where youngsters are pretty cool with what they wear and how they carry off their clothes and accessories," she says.

So, can we expect to see her outlet, Ananya, here? "Well, let's see. It is too early to decide, even though the response till now has been good."

Though not a trained designer, the self-taught style expert loves to work on bright colours and trendy cuts. "I'm quite a `blue' person. And I like a mix of bright and subtle colours, skin tones basically - nothing gaudy but simple shades of yellow, white, crèmes and beiges," says Nandita who thinks the slant at this year's LIFW was towards western wear, at least in the last few days she got to view. "I was happy to see a couple of new designers making inroads into hi-fashion. While most designers try to stick to straight cuts, there are those who experiment with new styles and funky cuts. That's what makes LIFW what it is."

What does she specialise in? "My stuff is primarily Western and a bit of fusion. Besides the in-house brand, I also stock western wear by designers from France, the U.S.A. and the U.K. Even the Indian designers' creations are of export quality." Fusion comes into picture where the separates, embellished with embroidery, sequins and beadwork, are concerned. Her mix-n-match collection comprises mostly trousers, jeans, tops, skirts and scarfs, among others. Of course, anything designer comes with a tag - perhaps unaffordable to many but definitely quality stuff. "Original is original, after all," she says justifying the price range (Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000). "Initially, I thought that Indians would not want to spend so much on western wear but I was proved wrong," she says. Elizabeth Hurley, Madonna, Beyonce Knowles and Gauri Khan are some of the loyal 'celebrity' customers of this pretty designer who is planning to open more stores overseas, including Paris.

What are her plans for future on the personal front (after the upheaval of separating from ex-hubby Sanjay Kapoor who is now married to actress Karisma Kapoor)? "I don't know what the future has in store for me. But, I'm pretty much into my work and I'm happy with the way my life is going. And, I really don't want to plan anything ahead," she says.

SHANTI NANISETTI