‘Affordability most important’

Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) Vikram Phadnis is known for his extravagant and larger-than-life creations, but the ace fashion designer says he makes it a point to ensure that his clothes are wearable and affordable.

"Practicality and affordability are most important. I keep that in mind while designing," Phadnis told IANS.

The designer, who has earlier created garments for celebrities like Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Rao and Soha Ali Khan, says he always tries to safeguard Indianness through his clothes.

"I keep it (Indian quality) intact as my sensibilities are in India. For me, it is important to crack the line in between (India and the western world). I want to safeguard Indian clothes and don’t want to get influenced by the modern or the western world," he said.

The Indian fashion industry has seen an influx of new designers. Though Phadnis is glad to see the growing popularity of fashion designing as a profession, he feels they need to have some talent to be able to do well.

"Every second person wants to be a designer. I love some of the young budding talent, but there needs to be a base to it," he said.

Phadnis, who has also designed clothes for Bollywood films like "God Tussi Great Ho" and "Salaam-E-Ishq", said styling in movies keeps on evolving.

"Costumes in cinema evolve itself, so no one wants to stick on to just one look," he said.

The designer is currently busy preparing for Lakme Fashion Week, which will be held in March. He will be showcasing a line celebrating rural India.

"I am a designer, who lives in a metro city and has all the infrastructure that places like Raigad and interiors don’t have. But they have so much of scope and energy, and to bring that to the forefront will be great," he said.