Indians fail to recognise young talent: designer Abdul Halder

Wed, Apr 16 08:25 AM

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Budding Indian fashion designer Abdul Halder, who shot to fame by designing costumes for pop icon Michael Jackson, says young talent is recognised in the country only when the West applauds his work.

'People in our country fail to recognise the talent of young designers,' says the designer who is all of 26.

'They respect you when the West praises their work or they showcase their lines at international shows. It is quite unfortunate,' Delhi-based Halder told IANS in an interview.

It was in 2002 that Halder designed the Indian maharaja look for the music video of Jackson's song 'Ghost' for his album 'Blood On the Ground Floor'. However, it couldn't be used because of 9/11.

'Michael wanted to use the look of our maharajas for his music video. But since it matched the way Afghans dress and would have created a controversy he changed the concept.'

The designer then started working with an Italian fashion house and debuted at the Lakme Fashion Week ramp in 2006.

'Young designers are very refreshing, their styles are very different compared to veterans who are much repetitive or they do it deliberately to establish their individuality,' said Halder, who is originally from Kolkata.

'However, before starting their own label or taking the plunge in the market, aspirants must work with some brand. The more mature you become the better it is.

'Also, it makes you understand the psychology of customers better because a designer works like a doctor. For instance, a fat woman feels bad because of how she looks. If a designer can create an outfit that makes her look slimmer, she would feel good and more confident and the style guru will heal her.'

Commenting on how Indian fashion is perceived globally, he said: 'Today, Indian fashion is recognised everywhere. But our quality standards are bad. Embroidery is not only design. It is also about construction, cuts and finishes, where we lag.

'Buyers take the samples from Indian designers and get the same designs reproduced in China because they have high quality standards and delivery is on time.

'If we want to overcome these problems, in the first place designers must know tailoring and those who have tailors must be imparted institutional training so that they can produce high quality stuff.'

Recounting the experience of working with the controversial Michael Jackson, Halder said: 'His pianist introduced me to Michael. He is a gentlemen...very soft-spoken and extremely easy to work with.

'He likes bright colours like yellow, fuchsias, reds and blues. To look different from everyone he wanted me to create unconventional designs and induce curves in men's wear. He loves to be the centre of attraction.

'To my amazement, he would wear an outfit only once and never repeat it. Contrary to common perception he is a teetotaller and a vegetarian. He has visited India and told me that he likes the country a lot. We had sent him bindis, bangles and brocades as a token of appreciation and he was extremely happy.'

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