Indian fashion weeks are interactive: British jewellery designer

Bambolim (Goa): Inspired by India`s diverse culture and beautiful fabrics, British jewellery designer Cornelis Van Andel shifted base to India 20 years back. And she feels Indian fashion weeks are quite interactive that adds more soul to the events.

"Indian fashion industry has more feelings compared to the West. There fashion weeks are very controlled, organised and smooth but here in India there is a room for personal interaction which in a way is very interesting," said Van Andel, who is exhibiting her label Van Andel and Peace Jewels at the ongoing India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW). The designer, who runs the label in Goa with her husband Karen Peace, has been fascinated by India from a very early age. "Once while travelling to India, I got to know that it`s the perfect source for my raw materials. I collected the most beautiful hand embroidery from Jaipur, mixed it with colours and textures to make some of the outstanding collections. It`s irresistible," Van Andel told IANS in an interview. "It`s the flamboyance of India which attracted me the most from a very early age. People abroad love Indian sensibility and designs and that`s the reason why I shifted my base from Britain to Goa just to add variety to my collection," she said. "I wanted to mix my western sensibility with Indian flamboyance and present something out-of-the-box," she added. Van Andel feels Indian designers should promote their culture and craft rather than taking inspiration from the West. "India is known for its embroideries and techniques, so why not promote such things abroad rather than taking inspiration from the West," she opined. The reason why the designer zeroed in on Goa to have her workshop? Its pristine beaches and great ambiance. "The atmosphere is more relaxed and ambiance is pretty cool. In our workshop, we have local people working for us. I get jewellery from Nepal and make them into beautiful statement necklaces and rings," she said. The four-day IRFW began Wednesday and ends Saturday. IANS