GEOMETRIC PATTERNS WHICH DARE, NOT BARE
Asmita Aggarwal (HT City)

Bangalore-based designer Jason Cheriyan is certainly not kicked by the idea of LIFW: “I’m not into image building as I already export to international buyers. I’m not really fascinated by the concept.” Exporting he might be but the domestic market is what interests Jason, who is showing his interim collection at Ogaan (Santushti and Haus Khas Village), more. A NIFT graduate, he discontinued his studies at the Madras College of Arts and Craft where he was pursuing textile designing. “In the ’90s fashion was still upcoming. Not that we have reached the pinnacle now, but it was a fairly young industry. NIFT was delightful and it was a huge change from textile to fashion, though I must admit I drifted into it. It was never planned,” says Jason who had his schooling at St George’s School, Ooty.

Workshop – his label was launched in ’95 and now Jason retails from Cinnamon, Bangalore, and does both Indian as well as western lines. This time, though, he has concentrated only on linen and cottons with a wide colour palette. “They are clothes you can slip into, with no buttons, all priced between Rs 995 to Rs 2,000,” says Jason adding, “that linen is in pastels but cotton includes everything – from canary yellow to hot pinks.”

A follower of Issey Miyake’s art of pleating, Jason also uses it on skirts. “My pleating is hand done and not machine-made, so you can see it on skirts, trousers, pajamas and a few non-fussy blouses,” says Jason who has brought out this line for those who want comfort and elegance without paying a bomb for both.

Most of Jason’s embroidery is distorted – it’s done in a wave pattern, with no scope for straight lines. “Most of my kurta tops are minimalist, with geometric embroidery so it’s easy to wear but doesn’t bare at the same time,” says Jason who believes that Delhi buyers are different from those he caters to in Bangalore. “Here, you need more shimmer and shine, with a few value additions unlike Bangalore which is more accepting of clean, simple lines,” says Jason, who is holding an exhibition in the capital after six years.

Exporting to UK, Spain and Japan, Jason has also worked with fashion designer Suneet Varma for two years (’90-’91). “It was a learning experience. He taught me a lot about colours, fabrics and blending. But I guess when you’re out of fashion school, anything is good even though it takes you time to evolve your own style which you eventually find,” he adds.