'I wanted to become an interior decorator'

Designer Rohit Verma is one of the most celebrated names in the industry today. Having taken a fancy to fashion designing as a child, he took this interest one step forward by creating handwoven garments for his mother and sister as a teenager.

Rohit was in the city recently for the ‘India Luxury Style Week’ to showcase his latest collection, which was different from his usual style of work.  In a chat with Surupasree Sarmmah, he talks about his summer essentials, his love for the beach and more.

What do you think about the fashion scene of Bengaluru?
I feel the crowd here has become very experimental over the years. With various fashion weeks being organised, people are now getting exposed to the latest trends, especially when it comes to menswear.

Your latest collection looks gothic yet enchanted...
I have chosen a unique concept and the collection is inspired by a graveyard. I have used 75 different shades of black and silver and 95 types of fabrics. The collection focusses on the metrosexual man who is unapologetic, bold and experimental with fashion. It has a strong Indo-fusion twist of drapes, tuxedos and kurtas.  

If you are a new addition to the summer wardrobe, what would you like to be?
A drape ‘kurta’ with unique cuts and structure. An ideal summer outfit for you... A live-in ‘pajama’ and a long flowy kurta.

Pool or a beach?
Definitely the beach! That’s because it’s so vast and has no limits — it allows one to live liberated, unlike the pools.

One difficult fabric to work with...
Organza. This fabric is very restricted and is a challenge to work with.

Most fashionable celebrities in the industry today...
Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Kangana Ranaut. They are very experimental.

Did you always want to be a fashion designer?
No, when I was a kid, I wanted to be an interior decorator. But slowly I was exposed to different fabrics and traditional designs. I realised that India has many colourful and traditionals designs; it has so much to give to the world.

Which celebrity would you like to work with?
Kangana — she is bold and not particular about anything. She is open to experiments and can pull off any style.

Thoughts about the young designers in the industry today?
These young designers are extremely talented and are doing a great job. I feel proud of them and their work.

How was your experience at the India Luxury Style Week?
This was my second season and it was a lot of fun. I had a unique concept and got a lot of appreciation for my outfits and the theatrical act we put up on the ramp.