The summer-time story

Dainty Designs

Purple, blue, black and red, the ramps of ‘Bangalore Fashion Week’ sparkled in style with veteran designer Michelle Salins’ collections. A mix of seventies and fifties, her summer collections cherished unique prints and cuts. Playing with the variety of fabrics, her collections had short dresses, flairy gowns, shorts, and suits for the guys.

“I have used a little bit of tule. In silk I have used crepe silk, georgette, satin silk that are all soft textures. I have also used cotton in both plain and stretch. With pleats and draped necklines, there is a stylish dimension to the silhouettes, reminiscing the style of 50s and 70s,” says Michelle about her summer collections.

Her designs were rich in colour and each colour had a story to tell. While white represented purity and new beginnings, green was the colour of nature. Orange was the colour for fun and purple the colour for creativity. Having a range of collections in black and blue, they represented power and calmness. The flairy red gown in her collections represented excitement and pink was the colour for love.

Having a flagship store on Residency Road, Michelle also has her store in the United States. “I have just started flagship stores here in Bengaluru and also in the US. I have been very busy and so we still haven’t done any hue and cry about it. We haven’t yet shouted out loud about this. It has been an extremely busy season. So, the formal opening will be during the month of February or March,” she says.

Having variety in her designs, the highlight of her collection was the ‘Lego head man’. The popular animated character among the kids and the adults, ‘Lego’ was an inspiration to Michelle’s designs. The Lego head man was playfully printed on pants and dresses. “Everyone likes the ‘Lego head man’. He was a playtime while growing up and this became an inspiration to my summer designs. They bring back the ‘Lego’ time nostalgia. I have also used floral prints with blooming glamour,” she explains.

Being one of the renowned fashion designers of the City, she says that her journey as a fashion designer has been fabulous. “I feel chosen and blessed. I have had a wonderful ride from the time I have started,” she says with a smile.

The busy designer, who manages her stores in India and the US says, “For the US, the dresses are fit and flair. They are sheath fitted dresses and have straight silhouettes. We use very soft fabrics. Garments are less lined there. Over here in India, we line it very differently. I am very particular about finish. For me, lining a garment is an inside-out kind of a thing,” she details.

She, who has been part of Bangalore Fashion Week for the third time says, “With every year, Bangalore Fashion Week is getting better. The City has to however acknowledge it a little more and give them a little more cheer as they work really hard. I am part of Bangalore Fashion Week because I commend what they are trying to do. I think we as part of the City, should encourage them,” she says. A passionate designer, she wraps up saying, “Be yourself and enjoy what you are wearing.”