Fashion has been Shravan Kumar’s religion since childhood. Even when he performed extremely well in studies and grabbed a seat for medicine, his mind was not ready to bid farewell to the world of fashion.

As he now travels the world staging his exquisite creations and winning applause from celebrities and commoners alike, Shravan is happy that he followed his heart.

The Malayali designer, who was born and brought up in Hyderabad, was at Kochi Fashion Week showcasing his new range of clothes.

“Though born and brought up in Hyderabad, my parents made sure that my sisters and I are not alien to our culture. We grew up appreciating Malayali customs, traditions and also the clothing styles,” says the designer, who has been in the glamour world for about 20 years, though he is coming for an event here for the first time. Rima Kallingal and Maithili were his show stoppers in Kochi.

At the Kingfisher Fashion Week, his collections were based on ‘Marumakkathayam’ custom. “As women headed families as per Marumakkathayam, the clothes I designed for them are quite boisterous; and for men, subtle.

In the shades of cream, bronze, beige and off-white, I believe the clothes portrayed the mood of the system quite well,” says Shravan, who graduated from NIFT Delhi and specialized in colour psychology from the London School of Design.

His creative lab, Shravan’s Studio, is not just a place to design beautiful clothes, but also research space for fashion.

Unlike many who think the fashion scenario here isn’t bright, Shravan observes, “It is a growing market and people here are quite clear on what they want. They always had an awesome taste for fashion.”

Though a constant part of many premier shows, Shravan says he likes the ramp to road, wearable style of fashion, as compared to the ‘just-for-stage’ attires.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Kochi / by Deepa Soman, DC, Kochi / September 07th, 2012