A great design exchange

The first garment Sabyasachi Mukherjee 47 wore was a frock ldquoI think my mother had hoped for a girl when she had merdquo he says with a straight face ldquoSo I wore frocks and jewellery until I was nearly three I was a happy victim of roleplayrdquo This offthecuff comment underlines Mukherjeersquos current mood which is to democratise fashionBut how does a highend brand revered for its desirable trousseau and fine jewellery actually democratise fashion The short answer is Wanderlust a travelinspired limitededition precirct collection of clothes and accessories imagined and designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee for HampMSoon you can afford a Sabyasachi saree Rs 9999 which will be available at HampM India ldquoThe sareersquos pallu depicts an old lithograph of erstwhile Calcutta while its border is inspired by Kutch embroideryrdquo Mukherjee saysItrsquos egalitarian in its affordable price tag everything is available under Rs 9999 Mukherjee says the idea behind collaborating with the Swedish clothing company was to introduce a readytowear line of classics for people who want to buy the brand but did not have access to it ldquoFashion is global and local at the same time India is a super important market for us and we are thrilled to work with creative talents like Sabyasachirdquo says Maria Gamzell head of new development at HampM The retailerrsquos past collaborations include capsule collections with international luxury houses like the late Karl Lagerfeld Lanvin Balmain Stella McCartney and the queen of pop MadonnaItrsquos inclusive in its designs and sizes seventyfive per cent of the collection includes sizeagnostic genderunspecific classic styles like the lounge coat kaftan denim jean safari jacket shorts shirts and Tshirts featuring the brandrsquos signature Bengal Tiger logo Women and men can buy products from each otherrsquos section mix and match repurpose and not worry whether it would be relevant in 2027 ldquoFashion mirrors life life does not mirror fashion Human beings are the happiest when they are themselves but there is so much social pressure and repression so if clothing can be a tool for people to break barriers and express themselves like beauty then why notrdquoWhy is it important for Sabyasachi Mukherjee to talk about gender inclusivityI am quite surprised by the younger generation and their openness to understand and use correct gender pronouns They are growing up to be an accepting society that does not discriminate between sexuality and gender For them people are human beings first I think the older generation that has been so prejudiced can learn the merits of tolerance from them We are at a healthy time in our life when there is a discussion between generations which will probably help us shape a better world This also makes inclusivity an important dialogue to have with clothesSabyasachi MukherjeeTell us about your infatuation with pop icon MadonnaGrowing up middle class in the suburbs of Calcutta I used to own a Walkman and one day I walked into a music shop to buy a new cassette But they had only two albums Madonnarsquos Like a Virgin and Michael Jacksonrsquos Thriller At the time I was just like any another teenager with raging hormones discovering my sexuality and the term lsquovirginrsquo on the album cover felt erotic Ever since that introduction Madonna has become a big part of my universe Itrsquos funny how when I was at my lowest during the pandemic because we had lost a lot of people we knew I woke up one day and saw Madonna following me on Instagram I am also kicked about the fact that HampM has a Sabyasachi Tshirt beside a Madonna TshirtWhat does it mean for you personally to be the first Indian designer to collaborate with HampMA collaboration with HampM is like a lifetime award because they only approach you when your brand becomes a power story in a certain geography or in an emerging market During our first meeting I asked them only one question Why me And their response ldquoBecause I am so Indianrdquo made me smile Sometimes you donrsquot do a collaboration for business but because you want to tell the India story on your own terms the narrative of the land with embroidery and print I hope design students realise the importance of having a global voice while taking pride in their Indian identity This collection by an Indian brand will be stocked in stores across the world Finally the world will recognise India mdash as a market itrsquos unshakeable and as big and important as ChinaWanderlust goes on sale on August 12 11 am onwards on Myntra and HampM online platforms and at physical stores in India except Mumbai