It’s summer time and it’s
cotton clothing time. And one place to find these clothes is in at Sheens Collections,
which is tucked away in a corner of Jayanagar. M.V. Chandrashekhar and his wife Priya run
this small, cozy salwaar kameez shop.
The well-stitched kurtas have a variety of cuts from the tight fitting to the flowing with
yards and yards of material. You can mix and match the kurtas and the salwaars. On the
other hand you could opt just for the kurta. While some of the kurtas are in the
traditional kalamkari prints, there are others with interestingly coloured checks. To this
collection, Chandrashekhar has added a variety of kurtas in crinkled fabric. Besides the
kurtas, there are cropped cotton shirts in traditional prints, which are ideal to wear
with Western clothes. Chandrashekhar, who did a course in fashion designing, says that
most design schools in Bangalore are extremely commercialised. According to him the
schools don’t teach the basics of dress designing and so most of the students who
come out of these schools are extremely ill equipped.
He says it has taken him several years of practising and mistakes to understand the
techniques of designing ---be it cutting the material or choosing the right kinds of
fabrics and colours.
Chandrashekhar favours simplicity and is opposed to over-embellishing designs. Just
embroidering designs copied from our ancient buildings, in his opinion, is no great work
of art. Today’s designers have made no unique contributions, according to him.
A pretty face and a fabulous figure are no guarantees to being able to carry off a variety
of clothes. Loads of attitude and intelligence are needed in equal measure to make a
person carry off a variety of designs.
While Sheens caters to the requirements of people who aren’t willing to take too much
of a risk with the way they dress, Chandrashekhar has a place called Metaphor where he
does designs to please himself and a select clientele.
All the clothes here are more on Western lines, which he prefers to call
“contemporary”. There are only about 40 pieces of garments, which are pleasing,
experiments in cuts and fabrics. Most of the clothing here is cotton, though there are
some pieces in silks, including “Ahimsa” silk.
Chandrashekhar’s main aim is to make specially designed and well made clothes
affordable to the common person. Clothes at Sheens are reasonably priced. The short tops
cost Rs. 100 and you could get just a kurta for Rs. 300 upwards. A whole set could cost
you Rs. 600 and upward.
On the other hand clothes in Metaphor cost more. Here prices begin at Rs. 600.
Chandrashekhar and Priya plan an exhibition cum sale of their clothes in September. So
watch out and don’t forget to be there.
Sheens Collections,
# 73, Diagonal Road,
Opp. Post Office,
4th Block, Jayanagar,
Bangalore-560 011.
Metaphor is at
#175-1, Pavillion Road,
1st Block, East, Jayanagar,
Bangalore 560 011.
Ph: 6647140.
You will have to seek an appointment
to see the clothes at Metaphor.
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