Swim Week Colombo : Meet The Designer

Flamboyant, bold and eclectic are the key words behind Ajay Kumar's collection. Taking part in his first international fashion show here in Sri Lanka, Ajay Kumar is eagerly awaiting to unveil his new collections which promises to be awe-inspiring.

Q: Describe your swimwear collection in 3 words.

A: We are presenting our resort line. Three words that would describe our collection - bold, flamboyant and eclectic.

Q: What were your design references?

A: All our designs are influenced from Indian heritage, art, architecture, landscape and motifs yet very contemporary in outlook. Each piece is iconic and has a story to tell. The resort line also has elements from our inspiration but handcrafted to look very stylish and resortish.

Q: Were there any elements that you became obsessed with while creating this collection? Yes, we became obsessed with the lotus. It is omnipresent across all our products and throws light on this existing symbolism of 'The Lotus Flower' in context to the duality of human nature. The lotus has been visualised in floral and geometric forms - or as we call florogeometric patterns to render a nouveau touch.

Q: Where does your love for swimwear come from?

A: We have designed a resort line and we feel it is a stylish extension of our existing line.

Q: What is the first thing you do when designing a collection?

A: First thing that comes to mind while designing a collection is 'The Emotional Connect'. What am I trying to do here and why? What can I connect the inspirations and trends to - the threads of consciousness that connects everything together.

Q: Are there any parts of the world that inspire your collection?

A: India. We are an Indian brand and we have vast resources of textile heritage and culture to be inspired from. Other than India, Florence and London are two places that inspire me the most.

Q: What are your thoughts on sustainability in fashion?

A: Sustainability is present in every aspect of our business of fashion. On the consumer's side, reducing impulse buying and investing in good quality pieces is a step towards sustainability. This would slow down consumption and reduce the impact on the environment. Save your dad's vintage jacket and reuse them or wearing family heirlooms creates sustainable fashion.

As a brand, we make engineered prints and make bespoke garments, thus, reducing fabric consumption.We are taking slow and steady steps to empower every individual and community working with us and creating value in the chain. The journey has just begun towards becoming a sustainable and conscious luxury brand with a brand ethos that works towards being responsible, transparent, modern, fair and environmentally conscious in many ways. We are not perfect and we may never be but we are trying and in many ways contributing back to the society.

Q: What are you most looking forward to at Swim Week Colombo 2018?

A: Well, Sri Lanka and India are similar in many ways, we share the same cultural threads, food habits and it doesn't feel that you are going to showcase in a new country. You feel at home. I am extremely excited as this is my first international show in Colombo.

Original link: Swim Week Colombo : Meet The Designer