Gauri Nainika

Presented By: P allavi Gupta Smriti Ahuja

Gauri & Nainika Karan were born and brought up in New Delhi.

Though originally students of economics, they always found fashion extremely fascinating.

After studying at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT, New Delhi), they launched their ready-to-wear label Gauri & Nainika.

The Designers

The label Gauri & Nainika was launched in January 2002 in New Delhi.

A ready-to-wear brand of western wear, the label offers glamorous, elegant and chic styles at competitive prices.

With a design philosophy that is distinctly feminine and refined, their collections are being retailed all over the country at various outlets and exclusive boutiques.

The Brand

The NIFT graduates launched their label, Magnetic Rag, in 2002.

At a time when most designers were focussing on clothes with an Indo-western feel and everything was embroidered, the Karan sisters set out to make purely western wear.

Magnetic Rag

“Our parents loved Broadway shows and old Hollywood movies,” remember Gauri and Nainika. “We grew up on a diet of films…. We used to love seeing all those glamorous heroines on screen, particularly Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.”

• And so was sparked a nascent interest that blossomed into their label, Magnetic Rag.

Gauri and Nainika are inspired by anything beautiful, from European fashion history, art, theatre, Hollywood and red carpet glamour to pictures of their mother from the 70s.

An extremely feminine and romantic design philosophy with styles that are luxurious yet understated.

Design Philosophy

Strong emphasis on fabric, cut & colour, the designs are all about shape and flattering silhouettes.

Combining of tailoring with drapery, the garments are meticulously crafted and have a timeless appeal.

Femininity forms the essence of the label with styles that signify youth, glamour and sophistication.

Karan sisters are stylish dressers, a quality they attribute to their mother. “Growing up, I remember her look as simple but still so strong-oversized sunglasses, red lip-stick, full skirts and very little jewellery,” reminisces Gauri.

Inspiration by their mother

Gauri & Nainika cater to a very distinct persona - one who likes to dress with a sense of occasion and is always at the forefront of fashion.

The styles are for a self-determining woman who is modern, chic, loves fashion for its magnificence and spectacular nature and pours her entire personality into her clothes.

The Client

Chamomile, the boutique-store for women and the fashion space with collections of 30 leading & promising Indian designers presented "Rain Romance" at their Khar store.

Boutique-store forWomen-Gauri

Nainika At Chamomile

Collections are crafted around their core philosophy.

Inspired by both old Hollywood glamour

and Grecian drapery, silhouettes were formed through colourful organza panels or were accentuated through a single eye-catching asymmetrically placed panel.

Focus lay on the empire line which was emphasized through contrasting belts.

Gauri & Nainika’s collection is a statement for crisp and clean cut silhouettes.

Key fashion style

Their Collections

Their collection at WLFW YEAR 2006

WLFW collection YEAR 2007

Spring/Summer 09

COLLECTION AT WLFW 2008 inspired by 1930’s.

Autumn/Winter 2008

They launched their collection by showcasing it in Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week (WLFW).

They never really aimed at Bollywood, but it still served them as a medium for communication.

“ we never consciously aimed at Bollywood ” – Gauri Karan

Key fashion communication ideas adopted by them

Actors Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif have worn their dresses and gowns for public appearances.

In the past year Gauri and Nainika designs have been on Bollywood’s most stylish.

Designing Bollywood

Priyanka Chopra chose a polka-dotted dress for a polo match, and Aishwarya Rai was spotted in a monochrome wrap dress.

. “I think our appeal lies in the femininity of clothes-it’s an aesthetic that comes naturally to

us” says Nainika.

How to make a Dazzling Red-Carpet Debut

Minimal accessories a necklace, or earring along with a

clutch, is more than enough.

Glamorous hair and make-up highlight one area-bold, red lips

are a classic. Or go sultry with dark smoky eyes. Leaving your hair down or pull it back in a loose chignon.

Red Carpet 101

The Karan Sisters’

Favourite Red Carpet Moments

Penelope Cruz in ATELIER VERSACERenee Zellweger in vintage JEAN DESSES

Renee Zellweger in CAROLINA HERRERA

“It’s an idea that is now gaining ground, is that you don’t always need to wear Indian for a formal occasion.”

Her beliefs in a country where the garment is a national treasure is “A dress is so much more....”

The Karan’s Fashion Mantra:

Today’s young women are showing off more skin than ever before. “In India in general, women are wearing more western in places where they would wear salwar kameezes, like a cocktail dress for a sangeet,” says fashionista Gauri Karan of Gauri & Nainika. “Women are experimenting and are not as self-conscious anymore.”

Indian Fashion gets a Makeover

  Gauri & Nainika

  MGF Mall - Saket

 

Ogaan

  Khan Market - Delhi

 

Ensemble

  Bandra - Mumbai

  Kemps Road - Mumbai

 

 Aza

  Altamount Road - Mumbai

  

Chamomile

  Khar West - Mumbai

Araliya

 Koregaon Park - Pune

Presence (stores)Zoya Bandra - Mumbai

 Kimaya Juhu – Mumbai

  CollageGreams Road – Chennai

Etalage T Nagar, Chennai

  Evoluzione – Khader Nawaz Khan Road – Chennai

 85 Lans Downe Sarat Bose Road - Kolkatta

AuraSadar – Nagpur

 

Gauri and Nainika Karan are the only designers that in India who only design western wear. They cater to a small segment of population who are well travelled and knows about fashion..

According to them, “Western wear is really catching up”.

They offer very glamorous, elegant and chic style silhouettes. Their designs are mainly inspired by old Hollywood glamour.

Conclusion

BibliographyWebsiteswww.fdci.orgwww.indiwo.in.comwww.Vouge.comwww.coolspotters.comwww.thaindian.comwww.highheelconfidential.com

Magazines Vogue Elle

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