Moving away from his family business to start his own designer label wasn’t easy for 28-year-old Kolkata-based fashion designer Shantanu Goenka. “There are hardly any Marwari men in this profession and it took me time to convince my parents that fabrics and design fascinated me more than our tea business,” says Goenka who is geared up to showcase his collection at the Bridal Asia fashion show in Delhi from September 25-27.
For his new bridal collection, Goenka has done away with heavily embroidered, sequinned outfits and experimented with light thread work with gara and chikankari work. “I have not stuck to the zari work but have given it a heavy look by embellishing the outfits with crystals,” says this NIFT graduate who bagged an award for being the most creative designer, as well as an internship with J.J. Valaya.
Goenka prefers to use “happy shades” in his collection. “I have designed a saree called the ‘Garden of Eden’ as it has lots of bright colours,” he says. Another of his favourite creations is a double shaded lehenga with crystal corset tops in silk, velvet and georgette.