In Christina Kim's label Dosa, which makes its debut in the city this weekend, Jamdani fabrics get a dressy makeover, khadi masquerades as stylish tunics and Rabari work from the Rajasthani gypsy community makes a colourful splash
In Christina Kim's label Dosa, which makes its debut in the city this weekend, Jamdani fabrics get a dressy makeover, khadi masquerades as stylish tunics and Rabari work from the Rajasthani gypsy community makes a colourful splash
If you thought the flat, rice batter pancake inspired Korean-born Los Angeles-based designer Christina Kim to name her world-famous clothing and housewares brand, Dosa, you are incorrect. Because Dosa has been named after its Korean meaning, 'sage'. 
But the label does have a strong Indian connection. Kim is fascinated with Indian textiles, fabrics, colours and textures. She has had a long association with the country, starting with her obsession and use of handspun khadi. And the good news? Dosa makes its Mumbai debut on August 10, as part of the three-day Eco Fest being organised by Colaba store Bungalow 8 that encourages sustainable fashion.
The designer, who has been hailed as one of the most influential names in the field of sustainable fashion by Time Magazine, describes her design aesthetics as a hand down from her Korean heritage. "We make clothing that women enjoy because it is comfortable and makes them feel good about themselves. Our houseware line includes a lot of textiles made by artisans from around the world using traditional techniques. We try to use cotton and silk that are sustainable: hand woven, organic, naturally dyed or handmade textiles assembled from material recycled from our own production," she says in an email interview from Los Angeles.
Maithili Ahluwalia, owner of Bungalow 8, claims she has been a fan of Kim's work for long. "Christina is an old hand and a poster girl of sorts for situating Indian craft in a global context," she says. "After admiring her work for more than 15 years, I recently got in touch with her through a common friend."
About her designs, Ahluwalia feels the designer effortlessly marries the local with the global. "She knows how much is enough, and keeps her clothes aesthetically minimalist."u00a0 At the festival, you will be able to lay your hands on Dosa apparel crafted out of different Indian textiles and craftwork.
These include Jamdani or Dhakai handloom from Bengal, Rabari work from the gypsy community of Rajasthan, and the humble khadi. Choose from Jamdani dresses, liberty silk blouses, vintage lace boleros and skirts, Rabari jackets, sheer muslin khadi cotton kurtas, Spanish boluda camisoles, PJ pants, loose chemise slips and aprons with the characteristic Joshua (a tree found in desert regions which resembles the Biblical character of Joshua reaching out to the sky for prayer) tree patterns on them.
Although Dosa is relatively unknown in India, it is a big label in the West. Kim established Dosa with her mother Vivian in 1984. She had worked for a menswear company in Italy, and founded her own clothing line that made boxer shorts out of African wax paint fabrics, before starting Dosa.
The brand is already a hot favourite among Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts and even US First Lady Michelle Obama.u00a0 "Obama discovered Dosa via Ikram Goldman, who owns a boutique in Chicago. The first time we saw Mrs O in Dosa in the press, she was wearing the Karina apron ufffd a colourful m ufffdlange of vintage lace, braids, trims and flowers, old stock from our Spanish lace purveyors," she says.
Obama was also photographed in other Dosa apparel. Once, she wore a tinted silk dress. This was appliqu ufffdd with tikli dots made from scraps that had been recycled from production, dip-dyed and hand-stitched to the base cloth. And recently, she was photographed wearing an icy blue skirt made from a vintage Spanish embroidered eyelet lace, stitched with clear beads to simulate icicles.
Kim's other ventures include designing outfits for the entire female cast of the Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Francis Mc Dormand and Catherine Keener-starrer Friends with Money.u00a0
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On: August 10-12, Bungalow 8, Colaba.
Call: 22819880
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