Designer Focus: Archana Rao’s Frou Frou

Archana Rao’s label Frou Frou has firmly established a name and niche for itself amongst the fashion romantics. Picking up where she left last season, Archana continued her pastel play with pearl detailing and embroidered cut work for Spring Summer 2015. Diving into the sea of vintage Parisian charm she resurrected the era with regal nuances. Her collection titled ‘The Apartment’ saw a mélange of soft hues starting with nudes, blush pinks, pearly whites that transitioned into strong shades like military green and ochré. Archana’s ability to evoke nostalgia through her clothes, her clever juxtaposition of ethereal fabrics with strong silhouettes, and deliverance of authentic trends season after season, has turned her into a promising label on our fashion radar, even as she looks forward to the launch of her flagship store in Hyderabad.

DESIGNER SPEAK

In retrospect…“Interned at Kaufman Franco and TSE, New York, and was a menswear designer at an export house in Hyderabad.”

Inspirations…“Hand me down clothes and stories.”

In love with…“Oversized clothing.”

An overdone trend…“Distressed boyfriend jeans.”

Favourite era…“India in the 1960s (Modest yet forward) and Paris in the 1920s (Flapper fashion was so playful and dreamy).”

Favourite colour…“Black.”

Most fashionable fictional character…“Estella from Great Expectations.”

Coolest thing in your wardrobe…“My mom’s French lace saris from the 60s.”

Wardrobe staples…“White shirt, a well-fitted pant-suit, flirtatious dress in a classic colour.”

Favourite designers… “Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Comme des Garçons.”

Favourite international show(S/S15)…“Chistopher Kane.”

Current references… “Frida by Ishiuchi. It is a photographic documentation of Frida Kahlo’s archive of dresses and personal belongings, as portrayed by Japanese artist Miyako Ishiuchi.”

To be a designer in India is to be…“Ambitious, uncommon and resourceful.”