Sonya Battla
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. Readers will be able to edit existing articles and post new articles directly |
Sonya Battla
Designer’s profile
By Shehryar E. Qureshi
She is called the “Queen of Cuts.” Yet few people can truly claim familiarity with her work. Sonya Battla has become a household name, and yet the clothes that bear that name retain an elusive quality that borders on the mysterious. In an age where a hyper-expansionary media is stealthily generating a national obsession with all things fashion, designer Sonya Battla has gracefully sidestepped overexposure to occupy the plum position of a designer who continues to pique people’s curiosity.
One of her label’s defining characteristics, which is particularly fascinating in the context of our nation’s overarching gild-happy fashion philosophy, is its estrangement from gratuitous embellishment. That is not to say that Sonya’s clothes are bereft of all feminine whimsy. Their prudish flirtation with the trappings of ornamentation is a study in understatement. Her subtle touch can be observed in every step of the creative process, from the collection’s predominant emphasis on neutral hues to the streamlined fall of the fabric to the delicately evocative trimmings.
Sonya does not allow any of her outfits to become merely a glorified display case for an original piece of embroidery. She exerts a strict control on the amount of bling so that it serves to enhance, rather than engulf, the underlying structural refinement of her dresses. Her motifs, the fruits of extensive theme-based research, liberally digress from the conventionally-employed flora of the season, blossoming instead from other gardens of inspiration such as geometric shapes, calligraphy, animals, etc., that adeptly complement the cut.
The sartorial construction of the Sonya Battla brand can spawn paeans of appreciation of its own. While most designers tend to pass off a kaarigar’s mastery as their claim to the ranks of a couturier, Sonya sculpts the simplest of creations with a finely calibrated craftsmanship that rightfully earns it the label of designer wear. Each piece is meticulously tailored not only to the size and shape, but seemingly also the personality, of the wearer.
This kind of mastery in one’s vocation is the ultimate validation of one’s true calling. Further proof is provided by Sonya’s frequent appearance in the nomination lists of many fashion related awards for best prêt designer. She is also a regular fixture on the Indian catwalks. Sonya Battla’s new collection, as displayed on these pages, arose from her fascination with body language and motion, which are most notably exemplified by dance. The clean and fluid lines symbolise the grace of the movement all the while highlighting the beauty of the form. It is the harmonisation of the aesthetic with the kinetic.
With the way things are going, the Battla sonata is set to soar to even loftier heights. This is one queen who might never parade her crown, but will definitely reign over women’s wardrobes.
