Known for his dramatic drapes, elegant
designs, and contemporary silhouettes, Designer Rohit Verma has managed to become
every modern man’s and woman’s go-to choice, be it for their wedding, or a
casual party. Rohit Verma knows it well to add a whiff of traditionalism to
modern outfits. Not just that, but the extremely-talented designer has a
penchant for drama and he often uses it on runaways.
In an exclusive interview
with Opoyi, the ace designer spoke about how the fashion industry will change
post-coronavirus crisis, changing wedding trends, and much more.
He tells, “The ongoing
pandemic has effected designers very seriously. Now, we all have to be very
careful while calculating the cost of the garment and have to keep in mind that
people would not be interested in spending a lot on an outfit.” Rohit tells us
that people would now opt for budget-friendly clothes. “I feel low-range
collections would be ideal for now.”
Wedding season is around the
corner, but with the stay-at-home order and the practicing of social
distancing, those big fat weddings will have to be adjusted.
With the stay-at-home order
and the practicing of social distancing, those big spring and summer weddings
will have to be adjusted. This means that the demand for designer wedding
outfits will also go down. “You’ve rightly pointed out that weddings give the
designers business. Most of the weddings have been canceled during the lockdown
and this is going to continue for a while. Earlier, Indians preferred lavish
and big fat weddings, now they’ll rather prefer court marriages or a much
simpler temple wedding.”
He adds, “People won’t be
spending a lot on their wedding outfits as well. This also means, there won’t
be too many wedding functions happening. The sales have gone down by 75 per
cent in 2020.”
Rohit gives tells us a mantra
that will help the designers in surviving this pandemic situation. “The only
mantra to survive is – start working on budget-friendly collections.”
Rohit is known for his
trendsetting designs and clothes. He goes beyond what’s expected to create
unique and fabulous pieces that allow brides to reflect their style and
attitude. Rohit says, “One major trend that is going to follow will be the
availability of designer and matching-to-the-outfit masks. Affordability and
simplicity will be the new normal in the fashion industry.”
The fashion industry is
grappling with unprecedented losses in the middle of their Spring-Summer
season. Due to the lockdown, productions have had to be halted and demand has
adversely gone down. Indian fashion industry depends on a range of talent
starting – workers, artisans, craftsmen. The designers are facing additional
pressure after most of their resources have gone back to their villages.
“Artisans are the backbone of
the industry and without them, no one can bring life to the designer’s vision.
This is going to be a really big challenge for the fashion industry.”
He continues, “Earlier, we
used to anticipate the need and requirement according to the trends and worked
on pre-collections. In this situation, with reduced human power, we will have
to work on whatever will sell.”
Rohit, who made it big with
his Bigg Boss appearance in 2003 feels, “2020 is not the year for experimentation. It
has forced artisans, handloom workers, and craftsmen to leave metropolitan
cities and move back to their villages. We will have to cut down on staff and
work with local and easily available vendors.”
“The couture business is
going to suffer for at least the next three years and no one would be
interested in splurging money on clothes,” he adds.
A Rohit Verma collection is
all about flamboyance, glamour, and glitz. The best character of his line of
clothes is the bold and deep colours and delicate work. Rohit suggests that
designers will have to think digitally now and will have to go local. “I think
‘Made in India’ concept will finally be in force. People are going to depend a
lot more on local designers. Also, online businesses are going to flourish if
they price their products efficiently.”
From gorgeous Bipasha Basu to
evergreen Sushmita Sen, Rohit has worked his magic for every big name in the industry.
The 41-year-old designer tells us that ‘sustainability is what is going to help
us in the years to come. “People are quite aware of their surroundings and
sustainable fashion is the new way of life. We can’t be selfish to harm the
environment for our benefit and needs. Sustainable fashion includes the three
R’s – Reuse, recycle, and repeat.”
Rohit strongly believes that
minimalism is the new beautiful. “You can always mix and match your garments.
You can pair your simple lehenga with a heavy dupatta or vice-versa. Wearing a
trendy long skirt with a heavy blouse can also be a great option. Temple
jewellery is another thing that is going to be in trend because of its price
and availability.”
