Sulakshana Monga’s creations are manifestations of art, immaculate craftwork, and impeccable fit. She vessels the soft power of silhouettes into exceptionally intriguing pieces that convey class and luxury. The Bikaner-born designer has charted a journey in fashion over three decades to establish her eponymous label. Her sons Dhruv and Porus, too, became a part of this journey when they joined hands with their mother to make the label a premium luxury destination for brides and grooms all over the country.
In an interview withManifest, the designer opened up about balancing being mindful of her diverse clientele and her label's design ethos. "People of different cultures and backgrounds come to us, so we have to keep their preferences in mind. So while we keep our design philosophy in mind, we’re also mindful of their cultural needs."
The brand's creativity has been driven by the use of traditional handwork, luxurious textiles, bold cuts and painterly patterns.The label aims to flawlessly combine Western sensibilities with Indian ethos to create fashion for those young at heart.
Take a look at our full conversation with the designer as she opens up about her design philosophy, working with her sons and more...
Manifest: How would you define your design philosophy? What are some of the signature elements that set Sulakshana Monga’s designs apart from others?
Sulakshana Monga: My aim from the beginning when I started working was to honour traditional Indian fashion designing elements, such as extinct intricate embroidery techniques, ethnic patterns, and symbolic motifs, while fusing them with modern cuts, and silhouettes. This mix-and-match approach to fashion helps me to bridge the gap between the past and the present and also allows traditional Indian design patterns to remain relevant in today’s modern times. I have always focused on telling a story through my pieces, whether it's from ancient mythology, tales of the royals, or a commentary on social narratives. By using motifs like peacocks, lotuses and paisleys, I focus on communicating stories that will remain an all-time classic and remain relevant even years down the line, because the art of storytelling never really dies.
M: Since your first collection SOLTEE to your latest collection showcased at the ICW 2024, Summer Solstice, what do you think has changed in the way brides look for their wedding trousseau?
SM:The ways brides look at their wedding trousseau has changed a lot. In today’s times, the new generation bride wants to see herself in a wedding trousseau that presents a harmonious blend of traditional designs and modern-day silhouettes. I would like to call today’s times the ‘contemporary era of bridal fashion’.
M:Tell us about working with your sons Dhruv and Porus. How do you meld together your vision for the brand? What are the roles everyone plays in the process?
SM:When you are working with your family it is a unique experience but at the same time it comes with its own share of challenges. Speaking about my sons, they are both visionaries. Porus is more inclined towards business development while Dhruv has always enjoyed creating and developing new products. He also helps me experiment and create new designs. He enjoys the process of designing, the material selection and also the creation.
M: With a lot of focus on creating bespoke designs, what advice would you give to brides who wish to get their wedding trousseau customised?
SM:“My advice to all the brides is to choose wisely what suits their body type and listen to what their heart says. Don't worry, I am here to make your dream wedding look real. Most importantly, it's your big day, don't forget to have fun and enjoy every moment of it”.