Ethnic chic - The Hindu

Meet Rashmi Prakash and Janavi Janagan of Ekat who fuse Indian craftsmanship with Western contemporary lines

Imagine a black currant lassi or a pani poori margarita — unusual right? Those were exactly my thoughts while viewing the clothes at the launch of Ekat, a new women’s wear label recently. Inaugurated by actor-dancer Sukanya, the event showcased an interesting blend of evening dresses, jackets, printed textured pants, shorts and skirts. The collection mirrored traditional Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary.

The designers, Rashmi Prakash and Janavi Janagan, driven by a common passion to integrate Indian sensibilities with modern silhouettes started the brand. For instance, their denim dress has aari and stone work with lots of embroidery. The nine-yard silk sari is given a second lease of life in the form of a pleated jacket with intricate gold embroidery and an evening dress.

Says Rashmi, “When we were students at NIFT, the thought of starting our own brand had always excited us. The conception and creation of Ekat took place when we realised that there is a market for our design ideology. There is a prominent unifying element that runs through all our garments. We believe that designs should constantly evolve and keep up with modern lifestyles.”

Though as individuals they have vastly different aesthetics, an admiration for each other’s sense of design brought them together. The clothes are simple, well-crafted and affordable, although there are not many pieces in the collection. For details look up Ekat’s Facebook page.