Fuss-free and festive gorgeous. That’s H&M India’s Festive Collection that has launched recently. We love the easy separates that make up the collection, like cropped tops, jumpsuits, dresses, wide-legged trousers, shirts and drape-y silhouettes. They come embellished with rhinestones and sequins and the palette comprises hot pink, red, sand, gold and black and also packs in kidswear. The campaign has been shot by Gregory Harris and features actress Athiya Shetty. Models Anjali Torvi, Ashley Radjarame and Zinnia Kumar are also a part of the campaign. t2 caught up with Athiya for a quick chat.
What did you like most about H&M India’s Festive Collection?
This is more inspired by Diwali. I love it. I think it has the perfect mix of the tradition and the modern, in terms of colours and silhouettes and that’s what I love about it. It’s not too festive, but at the same time, it’s not too modern. It’s a perfect amalgamation whether it’s the silhouettes, the colours, the fabrics... it just gives a different vibe to H&M and I think that’s what makes it really special.
Do you have any favourite pieces?
One of the outfits I am wearing in the pictures is a pink jumpsuit and I feel that is one of my favourite outfits. It speaks to me in terms of silhouettes. The colour is happy and has a Diwali vibe. The fabric is beautiful, soft and feminine. To be honest, all the outfits and silhouettes are beautiful.
What’s your festive dressing like?
I love traditional, Indian wear and I feel it makes me feel most confident and elegant. I love Lucknowis and Benarasis and Indian textiles. When the festivities are nearing, I feel we can all go back to the Indian roots and there’s so much we haven’t even explored and I love wearing designers like Anamika (Khanna) and even a Manish Malhotra who do so much with Indian textiles. It’s beautiful how perfectly they blend the modern and the traditional. That’s what I love about H&M this festive season. They have been able to depict and capture that.
You were also in Paris recently for the H&M x Rabanne collection launch...
I loved being in Paris and meeting the H&M team. The event was amazing and just being in Paris is a different feeling altogether.
Rabanne is an iconic brand and for H&M and Rabanne to come together is also iconic in itself. It’s youthful, energetic, vibrant, fun and joyful and it is just celebrating fashion and fashion in a fun, happy space. There is nothing too serious about it. When you are wearing the outfit, you automatically feel like you have a fun, happy personality. I feel sometimes we take fashion too seriously and we think about fashion too much, but with Rabanne, it’s just fun. It makes you feel like you want to be a part of it.
What is fashion for you?
Fashion for me is comfort, to be honest, and it might sound like a cliche, but I feel as soon as you take fashion too seriously, the clothes tend to wear you and you don’t tend to wear the clothes. Sometimes, fashion can be super intimidating, but if you don’t try so hard to achieve the right look... like, I don’t believe in fashion faux pas, because who is one person to decide that something doesn’t work? I feel fashion is super subjective and everyone should not take it so seriously, but rather enjoy it.
You have grown up in a film family. How have you seen film fashion evolve over the years?
Oh! I loved it. For me, the films in the ‘90s were all about fashion, whether it was crop top and mini skirts or thigh-high boots. Every Karisma Kapoor song was iconic because of the way she dressed. That is why it was so timeless and evergreen because it was so cool and fun.
Today you can set a tone of your character through fashion, in terms of the colours, the silhouettes, the era... there’s so much you can do with film and fashion. India has really put that on the map.
You have a distinct personality, but do you think, in general, individuality has somewhat gotten lost?
No, I feel like people are judging too much about what people are wearing. Everyone should have the right to decide what they want to wear, and how they want to look and feel. There are too many people judging what is right and wrong and actresses shouldn’t look like this and actors should look like this. Everyone just needs to chill a little bit.
Who are your style icons presently?
My mom (Mana Shetty) has always been my style icon and will continue to be. I just love the way she puts her outfits and her clothes together. It’s simple and understated. I have seen that growing up.