#Designermusing: David Abraham and Rakesh Thakor- Masters of minimalism – Times of India

Even before minimalism became a buzzword in Indian fashion, designer duo David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore showed fashion lovers back home that there is more to it than just sequins and bling. They have redefined how we look at Indian fashion. The duo established their label in the year 1992 and displayed their first collection on the Indian ramp in 2010. She re-imagined the traditional saree and every other designer followed suit. His third silent partner, Kevin Niggli, also has a major role in building the brand A&T. In an exclusive for The Times of India, India’s leading designers share their favorite designs from over the years, the collection that is closest to their hearts and what inspires them every day. This week’s designers are David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, who share some of their favorite works from over 25 years of their illustrious journey.

In the year 2010, Abraham and Thakor made their catwalk debut in India. This was her first fashion show in India by A&T. The collection used iconic everyday motifs such as autorickshaws, umbrellas, slippers, a parrot as inspiration for the Indian ethos. The saree was re-imagined; Slightly cropped and worn with a belt (which later became a trend) and accessorised with a wedged heeled clogged shoe and a bodice with allover metal studs.

This particular outfit – a double ikat handloom woven silk saree from Andhra, uses the classic English houndstooth on the pallu and is teamed with a button-down shirt. The dress has been purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as part of its permanent archives for textiles and was the inaugural exhibition for the show “The Fabric of India” London 2015.

The catwalk show in 2015—the harbinger of the current trend of upcycling—proposed to reuse the old tradition of scarp fabric, trims, sequins and kantha made from old xrays to create a new one using old/discarded.

The catwalk show in 2011 – the idea of ​​using menswear-inspired shapes/patterns for women – and gender-fluid dressing – was ahead of its time and is still relevant today in the ever-increasing world of binary options. The collection used iconic motifs such as houndstooth, herringbone, plaid, and more – fabrics inspired by traditional menswear – but for women.

In 1992 his first collection from A&T was exhibited at The Conran Shop London, UK. She launched her brand in London, UK with a collection of loungewear, accessories and home textiles. This would later expand to other boutique shops such as Selfridges, Designers Guild, Harrods, etc.

The Christmas Catalog Liberty London – advocates easy yet sophisticated lounge dressing, the at-home comfort clothes that are now making a comeback in the COVID times of Zoom dressing and work-from-home. The range includes easy loungewear like pajamas, bedlinens with kimonos and accessories like slippers and eyemasks.

In the year 2002, the first collection of home and loungewear was exhibited at Seine d’Entire, Maison & Objet Paris. He was one of the first designers to show by invitation. The A&T Home & Loungewear collection has been offered twice a year to overseas clients for over 10 years.

In 2005, the first collection of A&T RTW Fashion in Tranoi, Bourse de Commerce, Paris. He was one of the first Indian designers to be invited to showcase their ready-to-wear collections to foreign clients.

She had her first fashion collection in 1995 at Browns (South Molton Agency), London, which later became her representative for a few years. The collection was sold to some of the best boutiques such as Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, etc.