Minimal and statement. That was Abraham & Thakore’s ‘Time Travel’ that unfolded on a canvas-wrapped ramp at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, at Jio World Centre, in Mumbai, perhaps a metaphor of the pristine charm of simplicity that the designer duo has made their own over the last three decades. A less-is-more aesthetic that’s timeless, much like Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, to the tune of which the models marched, all of them dressed in effortless silhouettes, reiterating how cool a label A&T was. Prior to the show, The Telegraph caught up with David Abraham, one half of Abraham & Thakore, on what to expect, and the brand’s legacy.
The promos of the show on the brand’s Instagram look interesting...
(Laughs) We have just sort of rebranded, meaning redesigned our logo. It is about going forward, looking into the future, but at the same time being cognisant of what we have done in the past and what we are doing right now. And, I hope the collection, in a way, will sum that up, because it’s about mixing clothes from different times, from our current season, which is available in the stores to the next season, spring, with old, iconic, archival pieces... we are going to mix it and probably hope, people will not be able to make out, which is which. That is the idea of A&T. We believe that what you have is sort of timeless. It’s very important for the sustainability argument actually.
And, rewearing...
Very much so. We believe you should constantly wear it and our customers do that. I find that very rewarding. We think it is nice to do that in a show. Instead of just showing new clothes, we are saying that here are a few key things. We are hoping it’ll be a statement.
It’s not unfashionable to wear your old clothes...
Exactly! You have put the words into my mouth! (Laughs) I think people need to buy with a sense of respect of what they are buying, buy good stuff, look after it well, keep it, keep wearing it, mix it with new clothes.... That’s important... otherwise it becomes a waste. We try to do it as much as possible... with good fabrics, sustainable fabrics....
Looking back at the three decades, what is the one word that comes to mind?
It’s been good fun. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Unlearning and learning, everything is good fun. Also, being in a particular space now, I am also looking forward to the future. What more can we do?
What are you learning from the next generation?
Some of the earlier practices we grew up with are not sustainable and I think it is important that we address that. Some of the earlier attitudes were unsustainable, approach towards inclusivity, gender... so many things we need to unlearn and make things better. I hope we continue to do that and everybody responds to that.
What goes into being timeless?
By staying up to date and being conscious of what’s happening around us, environment, society... people’s lives are changing. Also, being willing to discard your old beliefs and learn new ones, otherwise you are finished. It’s about being on the move all the time. It sounds like a contradiction....
Among the younger crop of designers, who do you like?
I like Eka. I saw a beautiful one in Delhi by Rimzim Dadu... a lot of them are engaged with textiles and crafts.
What has the working partnership with Rakesh Thakore being like?
We’ve known each other since we were in design school together. It’s like family... we argue about everything, but we also agree at the end. It’s an important part of our relationship.
Pictures: Sandip Das