I’m sure you’ve all grown up watching a healthy dose of television that featured a myriad of creative TVCs, and also if you’re a fashion enthusiast like me you’ve probably fawned over the vintage Peter England advertisements which told you that if you donned one of their shirts you became the confident, suave and elegant man you always wanted to be. For a young boy who always wanted to grow up and go to the office in an elegant ‘suit and tie’ ensemble this was a promise meant to be taken seriously…
In some ways the Aditya Birla Group has truly been a pioneer when it comes to men’s fashion in India, giving emphasis not only to more economical pricing but also an eclectic sense of style.
Pantaloons and People with their emphasis on innovative fashion-forward designs have been an encouragement to consumers all over India to dress to impress and make their very own style statements without having to break the bank.
Unless you look into it you’d never know the history of the dressmakers that follows the story of the century-old fine khaki trousers crafted by Peter England and Allen Solly that dates its establishment back to 1744, both acquired by the Aditya Birla Group in the late 90s with a promise to dress the Indian man in nothing but the best, having earlier taken the market by a storm with their own luxury offering Louis Philippe, and setting a benchmark for men’s high fashion and quality par excellence.
The Charm of the Challenge
I have always spoken of fashion with reverence, with a kind of longing and a certain want, and I suppose my enthusiasm for apparel, style and high fashion speaks for itself. I grew up listening to the awe-inspiring behind-the-scenes stories that my mom would fondly recollect, back in the day when she worked as an aspiring make-up artist at some of the early fashion shows in the late 90s.
Somehow the glamour, the textiles, the silhouettes, the lights, the music draws you in, welcoming you to be a part of this beautiful carnival of colours. But how does a chemical engineer from an NIT make his way through? He fights with his dad for an acceptance of his passion, he hosts his college’s annual cultural fest and its fashion showcase, makes friends at the nearest NIFT, networks his way through Hyderabad’s couture-obsessed society, connects with like-minded individuals, stylists, bloggers and socialites, sources material from grand local bazaars in his spare time, he must become a merchandiser, make-up artist, part-time stylist and designer. He doesn’t let go of the one thing that truly makes him feel alive, he revels in his passion for the needle and thread.
Does he make it big though? Perhaps… Only time will tell, but I can assure you he knows that it is this love for the art of fashion that partly makes him who he is, and now as a young management student he’ll probably learn a trick or two to make it all work, both his professional calling and his vibrant ambitions.
#ABGLP WOO ME – SEASON 2 #ABGLP WOO ME COMPETITION #IMI DELHI