Sabyasachi Mukherjee

This article is about the fashion designer. For the jurist and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, see Sabyasachi Mukharji.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee

SabyaSachi Mukherji at Lakme Fashion Week.
Born (1974-02-23) 23 February 1974
Manicktala, near Kolkata, India
Residence kolkata
Nationality Indian
Education National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) kolkata, St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, Sri Aurobindo Vidyamandir
Occupation Fashion designer
Labels 'Sabyasachi'

Sabyasachi Mukherjee (born 1974) is an Indian fashion designer from Kolkata. Since 1999, he has sold designer merchandise using the label 'Sabyasachi'. Mukherjee is one of the Associate Designer Members of Fashion Design Council of India and the youngest board member of the National Museum of Indian Cinema.[1] He has designed costumes for Bollywood films such as Guzaarish, Babul, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Raavan, English Vinglish etc.[2][3]

Personal life

Sabyasachi Mukherjee comes from a middle class Bengali family of Kolkata. His mother, Sandhya Mukherjee worked at Government Art College, and was deeply into handicrafts. His father, Shukumar Mukherjee lost his job when Sabyasachi was just 15 yrs.[4] Sabyasachi's sister Shingini Mukherjee (Payal), who is 7 years younger to him, manages the business of the label.[5]

Mukherjee wanted to study at NIFT. But, his parents wanted him to become an engineer,[5] as they couldn't understand how a course in designing clothes can help him in future career,[6] and hence they refused to fund his admission into NIFT.[6] Sabyasachi sold his books to pay for the admission form and passed the exam.[6] After his graduation, he opened a workshop, and started his career from there.[6]

Mukherjee, whose pet name is Pepsi,[7] initially intended to take medicines as a profession, and remarked in an interview that he doesn't consider himself a designer and that he just makes pretty clothes.[8]

Mukherjee also aspires to be a food writer and to conduct a food show. He likes places with a rich food culture such as Spain, Tuscany, Mexico, Greece, South of France, southern Italy.[8]

Design Philosophy

Noyonika Chatterji walks in SabyaSachi Couture.

Sabyasachi took time to cultivate his signature look. He told India today: "Initially people thought my blockprinted designs looked like bed covers and they were perhaps right. It was only over a period of time that my aesthetics were honed."[9]

Sabyasachi's design philosophy is 'Personalized imperfection of the human hand'. Deserts, gypsies, prostitutes, antique textiles and cultural traditions of his home town, Kolkata, have been a lifelong inspiration for this designer who believes that “clothes should just be an extension of one's intellect”. He uses unusual fabrics, texturing and detailing, 'fusion' of styles, 'patch-work' with embellishments in a vibrant colors. His creations evoke images of ancient and medieval ages. He describes his own collections as 'an International styling with an Indian soul‟. In the designs, he tries to maintain a non commercial balance in an extremely aggressive, commercial and competitive industry. His collection is for people who prefer to walk a path less traveled and who definitely believe that slowing down is not equivalent to dropping out.

His signature style is originality, as he moves between stunningly crafted bridal wear and perfectly structured western statements.[6] The designer draws his inspiration from art such as the colourscapes of French impressionists like Monet and Henry Matisse in his clothes.[10]

He pioneered the use of Indian textiles in a modern context. His unique contribution was the use of indigenous methods like bandhani, gotawork, block printing, hand dyeing etc. in construction of modern silhouettes. Sabyasachi is especially famous for Indian Bridal Wear.[11]

Life and career


Models walk for SabyaSachi Couture.

Summer of 1999, Sabyasachi Mukerjee graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology India with three major awards. Four months later, Sabyasachi started his eponymous label which began with a workforce of three people. Over the years, he has built a clothing brand which has a strong social perspective.

In 2001, Sabyasachi won the Femina British Council’s most outstanding young Designer of India award, which took him to London for an internship with Georgina von Etzdorf, an eclectic designer based in Salisbury. Returning home with edgier ideas, Sabyasachi started retailing at all major stores in India.

2002, Sabyasachi participated at the India Fashion Week where his debut collection earned him positive reviews from the national and international press. On a cover by Women's Wear Daily, he was reckoned as the future of Indian fashion. Spring of 2003, Sabyasachi made his debut on the international runway, with the “grand winner award” at the Mercedes Benz New Asia Fashion week in Singapore, which paved his way to a workshop in Paris by Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaia. His collection "Kora" at the Lakme Fashion Week 2003 won him laudatory reviews where he used unbleached and hand woven fabrics with Kantha and other hand embroideries. He was declared the best Designer of India at the MTV Lycra style awards and won the “Society” Achievers award for the best new Indian designer.

In 2004, Sabyasachi took a step ahead with Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week and The Miami Fashion Week[12] with a bohemian take on Indian textiles and his collection was called "The Frog Princess". His significant achievements included his coveted showing in Browns earning him a retail place at the tiny London store voted by Vogue as the best shopping destination in the world, thereby establishing himself as one of the most promising young designers for years to come.

He earned the distinction of being the only Indian designer to be invited to showcase at the Milan Fashion Week 2004 facilitated by Indo-Italian Chamber Of Commerce. Along with accolades, he was also voted by Asia Inc. a Singapore based Business magazine as one of the ten most influential Indians in Asia, alongside Aishwariya Rai, Priyanka Gandhi, Sabeer Bhatia…etc.

In 2005, his spring-summer collection, "The Nair Sisters" was inspired by hand block printing, embroideries, bagru prints and the extensive use of cotton and other hand woven fabrics. The collection was sold at Browns & Selfridges in London. He was requested to showcase his collections at the prestigious Oxford University annual black tie charity dinner fashion show.

2006, Sabyasachi’s debut Spring Summer collection’07 at New York Fashion Week earned him critical acclaim and his label started selling world-wide. The essence of this collection was based on folklore, glamour, simplicity, modern architecture and intricate detailing. There was a marked influence of paintings from the seventeenth and eighteenth century like Brueghel, Claude Monet and others. He used dark jeweled colors with muted shades accentuated with subtle texturing and indigenous embroidery. He is the only Indian designer to be a part of all three leading fashion weeks: New York, Milan and London. Sabyasachi believes that the unique positioning of Indian designers is due to the exclusivity of his homeland with its rich history and culture. He believes that Indian designers bring a flavor to the west that is no longer perceived as only exotic but also a rich blend of individuality and sensitivity.

2007, Sabyasachi participated at the New York and at the London Fashion Weeks plus Bridal Asia 2007, Lakme India Fashion Week and the Vogue Launch event in India. His “Sanctuary” collection showcased at Lakme Fashion Week Fall Winter 08 received positive reviews from the fashion editor of the New York Times, Suzy Menkes.[13]

The designer made his debut to the Cannes Film Festival in the year 2011.[14]

Sabyasachi closed the third edition of PCJ Delhi Couture Week (August 8–12, 2012) with his New Moon collection inspired by the flavours of five cities of the world- straitjacket discipline of New York, the nostalgia of the British Raj in Kolkata, the subversive decadence of Berlin, the romanticism of Paris and bohemian flair of Barcelona. Bollywood star Sridevi was the showstopper & walked the ramp for the designer in a sari.[15][16] The designer is showcasing this collection in UAE as well.[17]

In 2012, the designer styled a calendar for which Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia dressed up as famous painter Frida Kahlo.[18] whose has been the designer's inspiration for the Grand Finale at WIFW Autumn-Winter 2011 where the models walked the ramp wearing Frida Kahlo-esque rose headbands and wire-rimmed glasses.[19]

Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s latest Autumn Winter 2015 collection at Amazon India Couture Week (AICW) was titled ‘Bater’, after the bird that preys. For this collection, the designer collaborated with French luxury footwear and fashion designer, Christian Louboutin. 80 pairs of shoes, both for men and women, all embroidered with the quintessential Sabyasachi embroidery and embellished with hand-placed sequins, were created for the show. Louboutin also modified his signature Victoria heel for the collection, to be embroidered with the signature Sabyasachi embroidery using acid dyed burnt zardozi and vintage Parsi gara.[20]

Revival Initiatives

SabyaSachi Mukherji's show at Lakme Fashion Week.

Mukherjee started a project called SAVE THE SAREE where he retails hand-woven Indian sarees on a non-profit basis priced at 3500 & the entire proceed goes to the weavers of Murshidabad.[21] This initiative is also strongly supported by Bollywood divas like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vidya Balan.[22] He has been developing textiles from Dastkarin-Andhra Pradesh, Berozghar Mahili Samitiin-Bihar, Tantubay Samiti-Fulia and Kotpadin-Orissa. The designer uses rich ethnic fabrics in his collection - extensive use of Banarasi fabric can be seen in his range.[23] Over the past two years he has also been involved in reviving cotton Benarasi sarees in pure khadi and vegetable hand block prints from Bagru.

He is one of the designers who,by his skillful use of Indian fabric Khadi brought it in the International platform. Sotheby's London hosted an exhibition of contemporary design named 'Inspired by India' where the designer showcased his work of khadi.[24] Sabyasachi's collection of Winter-Festive Lakme Fashion Week 2011 revived the finer version of Khadi.[25]

Sabyasachi & Bollywood

The designer forayed into films by designing costumes for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's landmark film: "Black" which earned him critical acclaim along with the National Award in 2005 for the best costume designer for a feature film. Since then, he has designed for other Bollywood movies such as “Babul” and “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”, “Raavan”, “Guzaarish”,"Paa",“No One Killed Jessica” and “English Vinglish”.

In 2012, Sabyasachi appeared on NDTV Goodtimes' show Band Baja Bride.[26]

The entire trousseau collection of around 18 hand-crafted sarees for Bollywood diva Vidya Balan's wedding was designed by Sabyasachi for which he specially sourced the silk from Chennai.[7] Vidya Balan also wore seven of his outfits for her public appearances whilst serving on the competition jury panel at Cannes 2013.

Sabyasachi’s celebrity clientele also includes Rani Mukerji, Sridevi, Tabu, Shabana Azmi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sushmita Sen and Kareena Kapoor to name a few.[4]

Amongst international actresses, Rene Zelleweger, Reese Witherspoon & others have sported his label.[4]

Creative expansion

Sabyasachi, in 2008 launched a line of jewelry exclusively designed by him in association with the GAJA brand. He showcased his jewelry collection at Vogue Wedding Show 2016.[27]

He launched his exclusive menswear collection featuring Sherwanis, Kurtas and headgear at the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 09 Grand Finale show.

The Designer has also started the kids wear line under the label CHOTA SABHYA.“I felt the need to do something for children, using Indian techniques and handlooms, to make children sensitive towards our clothing,” said Sabyasachi

References

  1. ↑ "Associate Designer Members". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Fashion show Profile - Sabyasachi Mukherjee". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 January 2013..
  3. ↑ "Bohemian elegance". The Hindu. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Thakur, Shweta (11 May 2008). "Fashion world is a shallow one: Sabyasachi Mukherjee". Thaindian News. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  5. 1 2 Sharma, Garima (18 May 2011). "I wanted him to be an engineer: Sabyasachi". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Saran, Sathya (27 January 2012). "Firstpost Life His path is his, nothing else matters: Payal on her designer brother Sabyasachi". Firstpost.Live. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  7. 1 2 Banerjee, Soumyadipta (13 November 2012). "18 saris and a temple wedding for Vidya Balan". The Times Of India,Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  8. 1 2 Saxena, Manjari (2 February 2012). "'I don't consider myself a designer'". Gulf news. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  9. ↑ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/in-conversations-with-ritu-kumar-and-sabyasachi-mukherjee/1/237571.html
  10. ↑ "Wearing art: New metaphors for Indian fashion". The Times Of India. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "7 Top Indian Fashion Designers : Lehengas & Sarees".
  12. ↑ "Milano sarà più internazionale — MF fashion". mffashion.com. 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Sabyasachi a melting pot for fashion in India - The New York Times". The New York Times. New York: NYTC. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Sharma, Garima (10 May 2011). "Sabya at Cannes". The Times Of India. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  15. ↑ Caroli, Aditi (13 August 2012). "Sridevi turns showstopper for Sabyasachi". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  16. ↑ "Sridevi walks the ramp for Sabyasachi". Naxatra News.
  17. ↑ McLaughlin-Duane, Rebecca (29 January 2013). "Mukherjee's latest collection is 'very global yet very Indian'". The National. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  18. ↑ Joshi, Tushar (18 January 2012). "Neha Dhupia's tribute to Frida Kahlo". The Times Of India. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  19. ↑ Khanna, Priyanka. "RUNWAY REVIEWS". Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  20. ↑ Ahuja, Shilpa. "Sabyasachi Mukherjee X Christian Louboutin: A Collab from AW15 Couture Show". ShilpaAhuja.com. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  21. ↑ Narayan, Shobha. "The Saree Warrior". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  22. ↑ Tiwari, Nimisha (2 August 2012). "Sabya in Mumbai". The Times Of India. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  23. ↑ Vohra, Meera (25 September 2011). "Banarasi fabric catching up in Bollywood". The Times Of India. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  24. ↑ Walia, Nona (28 September 2012). "Khadi spins an international trend". The Times Of India. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  25. ↑ S Sen, Debarati (18 August 2011). "Sabyasachi to showcase men, women and kids wear". The Times Of India. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "NDTVGoodtimes.ndtv.com: Band Baajaa Bride". goodtimes.ndtv.com. 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  27. ↑ "Vogue Wedding Show 2016 begins in Delhi". 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
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