Sumona Couture presents “The Yuvrani story” for the Fall/Winter 2017 season in Runway Bridal

Sumona Couture presents its “The Yuvrani story” for the Fall/Winter 2017 season in Runway Bridal on September 2 -3, 2017. This collection is inspired by the rebellious spirit of Indian princesses in pre-Independence India.This is a story of Mothers and Daughters and how a particular princess from Baroda passed on her savoire faire to her beautiful daughter. Maharani Gayatri Devi-born as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar, is well known and much celebrated as a Fashion Icon of changing India. But little is known about Indira Devi, the Maharani of Cooch Behar and the princess of Baroda.

Indira circumvented her parents by taking the initiative in breaking her engagement herself,a daring act for an 18-year-old Indian maiden of that era. Indira Devi broke barriers by marrying the second son of a king. She subsequently came to Kolkata and brought yards of French Chiffon with her. She was the first lady of consequence to wear a chiffon saree and a string of pearls. This spirit of being herself, of pushing boundaries as well as the will to pass it on is what inspired us at Sumona Couture for this Yuvrani Collection. This collection is an Ode to that rebellious sprit in young princess and the women who brought about visible change with their fashion choices in the times of changing India.

We want to be very clear about who we are and what we stand for as a bridal brand. Our price range is from 35,000 – 85,000. We have the natural advantage of using Bengal hand embroidery – so we do use it extensively. We believe in style as opposed to fashion and most of our classic pieces have clean unfussy lines and silhouettes.

We were inspired by Indira Devi to break boundaries of our own so you will find the story-telling Baluchori weave of Bengal paired with the Shibori tie-n-dye of Gujarat. We also walked through the much-travelled city of Benaras and picked up brocades in variousshades. The colour palette runs from the deep orange of the Indian marigold flower to our classic wedding red and also includes Krishna’s blue and the Tulsi green. Bengal’s famous hand-embroidery has been used to enhance the fabrics as well as the silhouettes. Our entire range of hand-embroidery from aari to zardozi has been used. We have further experimented with gota patti work as well. Lucknow hand-embroidery is a staple for us as is evident in our sarees.

Silhouettes range from the long jacket to sarees and lehengas. The traditional kalli-cut lehenga has been joined by the pleated lehenga. Box-pleated skirts and knife pleated lehengas have added depth to the use of brocade. Some blouses are fitted while other skirts have easy peplum tops that can later be worn as separates. The heavier lehengas come with 2 dupattas and the lighter pieces have single signature chunris. A few skirts have can-can where drama and ceremony are needed. And other lehengas have a slimmer more modern look. We have thought and executed this collection within traditional boundaries. However, we have also kept our diversity alive in shape, colour and form.

Weare acutely aware that we pass on our history, our culture and our change from generation to generation when we put a collection together. This happens with the deliberate use of natural weaves, fabrics, embroidery and the choice of silhouettes when we wear them as sarees, lehengas or even Indo-western wear for any occasion.

We take pride in the essence of detail and the clarity of our silhouettes. This is the celebration and re-interpretation of the spirit of young princesses who left old Indian traditions behind so that they could create their new normal. Heritage weaves and antique embroidery techniques also tell fascinating stories of their own. We have tried to find a new balance of our own in the “Yuvrani Collection”.