Are you a retro movie buff madly in love with old Bollywood and the songs that the golden era rained on us? If you are a fashionista who is always on the lookout for fashion that blends traditional aesthetics with modern sophistication, get ready to fill your closet with graceful drapes and ensembles embedded on the hooks of nostalgia of evergreen melodies from the bygone era.
Helmed by power couple Amita and Deepak Bajoria, 1999AD’s newest collection is an ode to old Bollywood songs. t2 got the mother-daughter duo of Amita and Abhisri Bajoria to chat about the collection and its resonance with younger generations.
Why did you come up with a retro music-based collection?
Abhisri: It is a timeless collection that hooks onto the threads of nostalgia. Every piece is meticulously handcrafted. There is a hint of subtlety in the delicate applique work adorning the ensembles. Each attire has just one colour at play, an idea gleaned from nature as Ma sees her. She plays a lot with geometry and florals. The silhouettes are aligned with modern aesthetics while the workmanship is rooted in tradition. We bring on board intricate embroidery, sequins and other handcrafted details. Our pieces are purveyors of the love people have for old Bollywood classics. This particular collection only enhances the wearer’s natural beauty and refrains from overdoing the aesthetics frame.
Amita: The retro songs were the guiding star for this collection. They exude so much romance and celebrate womanhood in its truest sense, which has serenaded generations with emotional outpour. The handcrafted embroidery on each piece speaks to the fact this collection is a fusion of the modern and the old.
You belong to a nature-loving family.
Abhisri: Absolutely, and that has found expression in this collection too. The applique work romanticises plucking flowers from nature and using them as an ornament. The pieces are nothing but traces of nature in herself. We, as a family, have always been mesmerised by the beauty of nature and have retained that as our design philosophy for this latest collection. The ensembles are so minimal and yet heavily embellished.
Your collection is so colourful...
Abhisri: Lots of clients have told us they love the colours we have used. We have always been a house of subtle, pastel colour palettes. We’ve done some greens and blues and made it a dopamine pallette for a change.
The range is interspersed with the poetic admiration for women in iconic Hindi songs...
Abhisri: That’s the kind of essence we wanted to capture. Those songs had their own sense of what romance is and they were not far removed from reality, that is, the environment. The characters would express their feelings through songs for which they needed nature. There is this song... Phool tumhe bheja hai khat mein, Phool nahi mera dil hai...; countless songs had references to flowers, which ended up glamourising and celebrating the women. I’m myself a ‘90s kid... I listen to songs from my parents’ time a lot. I think this collection will help us bring the younger generation closer to our brilliant cinematic history, the true essence of romance and those simpler times.
1 This graceful forest green kurta boasts of delicate appliqué and intricate silver zari embroidery. Paired with chanderi embroidered pants, the elegant piece completes the look with a scalloped organza dupatta.
2 Make a statement in this pearlembroidered scalloped crop top and satin draped skirt set. The lavender organza jacket with exquisite pearl embellishments adds an element of elegance and makes it appropriate for any lavish ceremony.
3 Embrace sophistication with this yellow satin organza ensemble adorned with exquisite beads and zardozi embroidery. The satin draped skirt, the embroidered cape and the bustier top capture attention with the detailing.
4 This light peach satin pleated pre-stitched sari set is a perfect example of style meeting sophistication. The organza border features sequins, thread work, and 3D flowers. The pallu is beautifully embroidered too. Pair the sari seamlessly with a beautiful embroidered chanderi blouse.
5This reddish wine satin organza cape jacket flawlessly bordered with exquisite bead and zardozi embroidery is teamed with a pair of satin organza pants.
6Turn heads in this light mint green set comprising a fullsleeved short jacket paired with satin sharara pants. The jacket has intricate thread and pearl embellishments.