Shivan and Narresh gave us the bikini sari. How do they tie it all together?

Shivan and Narresh introduced us to designer swimwear and gave us the bikini sari. How do they tie it all together?

Five years ago, the Indian luxury swimwear market was virtually non-existent. But two young designers decided to make a daring foray anyway. They introduced the one-piece maillot in classic silhouettes and colour blocking when they debuted with their Winter/Festive collection in 2010. Since then, the maillot and all of their other swimwear variations have flown off the ramps and into the wardrobes of many, many Indian women. Shivan Bhatia and Narresh Kukreja set a trend, and suddenly Shivan & Narresh, the label, became a rage.

Keeping us sexy: Designers Shivan and Narresh are all about catering to the Indian body."Over the course of five years, with us opening the market and consequentially people’s mindsets, our styles have become bolder," says Narresh. "But our designs are still rooted to India. They [feature] modesty of cut but boldness of colour. Indian women have embraced the idea as the aesthetic is extremely global but the essence is still very Indian."After completing their graduation from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi, and their Masters from Milan and Rome respectively, Shivan and Narresh launched their label at Cannes in 2008. "Initially the thought of moving to India was intimidating, especially after experiencing a more evolved swimwear market in Europe. But there was also an adrenaline rush to start a new category back home," says Shivan. "It was a challenge to work on such an intimate form of clothing back in India where fashion only meant occasion and wedding wear." But their idea of swimwear that could be worn beyond the pool caught the attention of India. "A maillot, for instance, can be taken from the beach to a resort or a