Indian weddings are becoming more opulent with every passing day. Couples spend hours deciding about what to wear for the various functions.
However, there are others, who opt for austere weddings and subtle wedding wear. And when it comes to the minimalistic look, nothing can beat our very own cotton.
Talking about his couture collection for the season, couturier Tarun Tahiliani says "Rich south Indian Mangalgiri cotton can be couture too. I don't see why couture has to be silk."
"Handspun cotton is our heritage and intricate embroidery work like traditional chikankari, naqashi used to be carried out on pure cotton even before georgette and chiffon came into existence.
So why not now? As people become more aware about our heritage, they are willing to experiment with cotton," says fashion designer Anju Modi.
At the recently concluded Delhi Couture Week 2012, her collection "Devi’, proved that cotton can be equally elegant as silk, georgette or chiffon. Layers of textured and crushed khadi were used along side silk and velvet for beautiful garments fit for weddings.
Related Articles
Keep the look in check!
Pretty & powerful
Fear begets anxiety, leads to depression
Romantic tress code
Blue, purple are red hot
For the Indian fashion industry, bridal couture generates about 60-70 per cent of business and is growing steadily.
"Pure handspun cotton is my favourite and can be more luxurious than georgette or chiffon if worked upon proficiently. Just imagine a couple, who plan a destination wedding at a beach.
In such a situation, cotton would be most suitable for the bride," says Swati Uberoi, a Jaipur-based fashion designer. The idea of cotton bridal couture might sound appealing.
But not everyone is convinced. "Down south it is a common practice. I might sound a little snobbish, but cotton couture can only be carried out by women from elite intellectual backgrounds, who are immensely confident about themselves.
Not everyone would be able to do justice to it," explains Sunita Shankar, a fashion designer known for her strong adherence to the ancient handwork.
