Nikhil Thampi X Indya Is Couture for the Millennial Bride And Her Entourage

Ivory white, golden mustard, rust orange and finally, midnight blue – Nikhil Thampi’s latest design offering is inspired by the changing sky and…touted to be as timeless as the azure too.

“This collection is for the millennial brides who understand the importance of comfort on their big day. They no longer want to sit on one side and look like a portrait. They want to dance, interact with their guest and feel light. More than that they want something that can be worn again. These silhouettes can be worn even five years down the line and still be as relevant,” he says.

Thampi has often been associated with the avant-garde, futuristic couture and his commercial range with Indya is no different. Inclusive, versatile and sustainable – the collaboration addresses issues pertinent to contemporary brides, who are looking for wearable couture.

As Thampi says, “I want all women to have a wardrobe filled with Nikhil Thampi, not just one piece from one collection. That’s why we have come up with this collection that is more drape and print-oriented. It has standard silhouettes but with a modern twist.”

Traditional ethnic wear has been given a modern makeover without the garment losing its essence with pieces such as a side cowl drape lehenga with an extended hem that can be worn as a dupatta itself, a pre draped dupatta blouse with pockets as well as a side cape kurta.

He says, “This collection is supposed to work for the bride and all the members of a bridal party, for all age groups – right from the bridesmaids to the bride’s sisters and even the mother of the bride. From different body types to skin tones, everyone can find something that’s why the colour palette is also very diverse.”

At a time where no waste and sustainability are the buzzwords in the fashion community, Thampi’s collection also translates the same without skimping on style. “Even in our personal label, we focus on luxury quotient so much because a piece that is bought today can still be worn 10 years down the line. We applied the same logic to the Indya collaboration. The prints are not thematic but very generic. We have given a modern twist to eternal prints such as polka dots and stripes. That’s how we practice sustainability because our clothes do not lose colour or shrink after multiple washes. They go on and on,” he says.

Ask him to define the Nikhil Thampi bride and pat comes the reply, “She is a walking contradiction. All our clothing is powerful, extremely dominating but they still do not consume the wearer. They enhance the wearer’s personality. So, that’s very close to me and I always stand by it.”