'I believe in my clothes'

Candid talk

And unlike many of her peers, she doesn’t hold back in the least with her often critical opinions. Metrolife caught up with her recently to find out more about her work and style fundas.

Deepika admits that she slipped into the world of designing entirely by accident. “I never really wanted to be a designer. I was more interested in becoming a bureaucrat, and going into a field based on organisational abilities. But ultimately, the idea of going into a field based on creative thinking was definitely alluring as well,” she says. And while one may assume that these two career paths are completely different, she doesn’t agree. “Creativity means freedom — to travel, see cultures and work with textiles. It’s very ‘people-based’, so in that respect being a designer is similar to being a bureaucrat,” she explains.

Ask her what her primary style ‘mantra’ is, and she answers in one word – comfort. “That’s the crux of it. When I was younger, I wanted to be bold and daring, but over time, I realised that I need to be comfortable. I look at what my day is like and if I need to run around a lot, I ensure that I am comfortable for that,” she elaborates.

She mentions that she makes it a point to wear her designs as well. “That just highlights the fact that I believe in my clothes. One shouldn’t design for a client who doesn’t exist,” she says.

Deepika is also of the opinion that there is no commonality — even in terms of technique — in any two collections. “Each has its own defined area, in terms of colour, texture or embellishments. The outlines are clearly drawn and one works within that space. There can be no specific yardstick for all collections,” she says.

She also has rather fierce opinions of the many fashion faux-pas that she sees around her. “There are so many mistakes people make. A short person shouldn’t wear bold prints and stripes. And I wish people would stop wearing all-black and consider it to be an evening outfit,” she sighs, adding, “if you’re wearing black in the evening, it needs to be phenomenal — highly-detailed, well-cut and embellished. Just wearing any black is really depressing.”

And what about the fashion quotient of Bangalore? Once again, Deepika is contemptuous. “People here are too casual. They aren’t dressed or turned out well. It’s important to find your own style statement and remember that different things work for different people. It also helps to add an unusual accessory — a bag or earrings — that makes the garment look different every time you wear it,” she concludes.