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Hailing from the hills
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Geetika Katoch designer wear inspired by the temperate climes of the Himachal is just what the doctor ordered as the mercury rises.
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Geetika with her lovely creations. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu
AS WE move into the scorching summer, a time when one tends to swear with each degree rise on the Fahrenheit scale, the cool couture from the Himalayas looks more than promising. Noted designer Geetika Katoch who incidentally hails from the royal family of Sunder Nagar (the erstwhile princely state of Suket) in Himachal Pradesh, and with clientele like the Maharani of Jaisalmer, is currently busy at her boutique on Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, working on the summer collection.
``It is going to be shaded stuff for summers, lemons, leafy greens with a darker shade of green and very elegantly done to give the delicate, cool and summery look since I get the feeling that summers are going to be really hot this time,'' says Geetika.
Geetika works with natural fabrics -- mostly mulls and cottons. The trendy short kurtas and the long ones flaunt the typically Himachal chic straight cuts that come with the salwar kameez and churidars. The USP of her kurtas is that they come with smart side pockets - a must for the woman of today to keep keys, a small purse or a pen. A must-see at the collection is the use of brightly woven "Kulu patti" on the sheer white kameez. Kulu patti done by weavers in Himachal exhibits traditional designs in brilliant reds, orange, green and brown. The geometric brightly woven patterns reflect the colours from the temperate terrain. The embroidery on pastels - peaches and pink with chiffon dupattas has a feel-good look.
"They are cool, nice and dressy. I am doing semi-formals. With not too much embellishment work though because of the summers where you tend to feel warm. You can wear a little string of pearls to go with the attire."
Her expertise lies in mixing Kulu patti with embroidery with similar patterns for the dupatta. She has also experimented with Mangalgiri and Tussar silks bringing out an aesthetic fusion of weave and tradition. The doriya cottons with elegant embroidery combined with a bandhni dupatta are classy. To make the ensemble complete, accessories such as colourful bangles studded with Swarovksi crystals in subtle hues or the dressy ethnic bangles are available. Ditto for the Kulu caps and the "Pullas," the hand-woven slippers made from dried grass fibre.
"They are ideal for gifts and are especially popular with the foreigners. They are really doing well in Hyderabad. Back in the Himachal, people wear the pullas to climb, as they are sturdy and comfortable. Pullas give a very trendy look when teamed with the Himachal kurta and Kulu patti," observes Geetika.
Other buys include kaftans in cotton and lace, and hand woven mufflers and shawls for the winters. The trouser tops line in mixed cotton is smart and ideal for "the twenty plus and elegant with trousers,'' says Geetika.
The clothes are chic and affordable starting at Rs. 1,000 while the pullas are available for Rs. 100. You can call on Geetika's Collection of Designer Wear at 3317713.
SYEDA FARIDA
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