In a time and age when South Indians play Holi and practice fervently for dandiya events that Dasara brings with it, it must come as no surprise that the off-white and gold Kerala Kasavu sari is not just fancied by women of other South Indian states, but is also doing its bit to bridge the North-South gap.
Given the sizeable Malayalee population in Bengaluru and taking into account the fact that anyone who has ever visited Kerala inevitably brings home a piece of it in the form of a traditional mundu sari, apart from curios like wooden houseboats and elephants, it is not hard to see why observing a festival like Onam is not restricted to only the Malayalee community.
With Onam just a few days away, MetroPlus catches up with a few city-based designers, who have each conceptualised, created, and curated a special collection of apparel and accessories for the festival.
Susan John
A Sunny Disposition
Being out of the state I was born and raised in for the last decade has made me miss everything that Kerala means to me. I have been bringing out an Onam collection for four years now as a way to express the ‘Malayalee’ in me.
This year’s edition is named ‘The Thamburatti Collection’ and is a tribute. The name Thamburatti in Malayalam translates to ‘royal princesses of yore’ — princesses who were tough yet gentle, bold without being overbearing, graceful and beautiful without being overly aware of it. It was their graceful existence, I believe, has moulded Kerala into the beautiful place it is today.
The collection of bags sportclassic colour combinations; white and gold , black gold, brocade, and ebony. There is truly something for everybody. These bags are guaranteed to remind you of the rich and regal legacy of Kerala.
Mable Thomas
StyyleFairy Couture
Onam is also associated with Onakkodi or ‘new clothes for Onam’. Hence, most Malayalees buy something new to wear for this fest. There are many Onam related events during this season. Being a Malayalee and a participant at these festivities, I found that nobody wants to repeat what they wore the previous year and are looking for some variety in their attires. The other reason an Onam collection is done by designers like me, who also have a bridal wing, is to gear up for the upcoming wedding season after Onam.
This year, our collection is called ‘Chamayam’, which in Malayalam means ‘decoration with clothes and ornaments, typically by ladies’. But I chose to interpret it as ‘Aana chamayam’ or decoration of elephants done during the famous Trissur Pooram festival in Kerala, during which the elephants are decorated with ornaments, the most striking of them all being the nettipattam or an ornamental accessory worn on the forehead of the elephant. This ornament is the inspiration for the collection and features in all the ensembles through subtle yet vibrant hand-embroidered motifs. The collection also deviates from the usual set mundu and Kerala Kasavu sari and includes party-wear ensembles like cape kurtis, anarkalis, lehengas, crop tops and Indianised gowns.
Lakshmi Prasad and Sona George
Entheos Ladies Boutique
We believe we can bring the finest out of simple things in life, so we source Onam Kasavu saris in their natural and simplest form and enhance them with ethnic accents of Ikkat and Kalamkari, which complement the off-white and gold. We are careful to maintain the sheer raw beauty of the fabric and designs.
Our Onam collection is inspired by the grandeur of the natural beauty that reflects the rich heritage of the state of Kerala. We haven’t given it a specific name as there is always room to work on the apparel and allow it to evolve into weaves that are elegant, gorgeous yet subtle and one that has a native appeal at the same time.
Govind Kumar Singh
Rainush Design Studio
Onam is now a national celebration. My fascination for the festival dates back to my college days when the entire college would wear traditional clothes to celebrate the festival on our campus. This is the beauty of India and Indians. Any festival is celebrated by everybody.
Our Onam collection this year has been named ‘Baliraadi’. It is inspired by the affectionate bestowing nature of Raja Bali and has been built around his glory depicted by pastel and neutral shades with trims of gold-jari work.
Comprising saris and long fusion kurtas, combined with edgy bottoms for women, and long kurtas, shervani, and Nehru jackets for men, we are known for creating fusion looks that incorporate contemporary silhouettes. We have combined golden long jackets with saris and kurtas. The pieces have an international allure and yet are soulfully Indian in their aesthetic.