Shantanu and Nikhil describe their latest collection, which they showcased at the launch of their new showroom in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The fashion mavericks say that their ‘love for Hyderabad’ brought them back here to set up their seventh flagship store in India. Exhibiting their ceremonial collections — ‘The Matador’s Mistress’ for women and ‘The Mutiny 1919’ for men, the duo have a story to tell through their collection.

“Most of our influences come from our travels. And this too was a result of our travels to Spain,” Nikhil said. Taking over, Shantanu narrates the inspiration behind the collection, The Matador’s Mistress. “This is the story of that one lover of a celebrated matador, who bore his torch after his death. She is the one who turned into a matador herself to keep the saga of his valour alive,” he said.

With deep purples, reds, cobalt blues and emerald greens dominating the stands, they said that these are the colours that reflect the modern, independent and confident women of today. Men’s apparel, on the other hand, was a blend of strength and sensitivity. “The Mutiny 1919 is inspired by the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. They were ferocious yet peace-loving. We are trying to bring them back to life through this collection,” Shantanu added.

Merging drapes with the Nehru collar, the duo add a new twist to men’s apparel. “We have always been known for our drapes and it was high time we brought a little femininity in men’s clothing. And I also feel the grooms of today are ready to embrace fashion and step up their game in tandem with the brides,” Nikhil explained.

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