Celeb-Loved Designers Shyamal And Bhumika Intertwine Heritage, Modern Elements For Spring Summer 2023 Collection

Renowned fashion designers Shyamal and Bhumika unveiled their Spring Summer 2023 Couture Collection March 3 at their store in Artesia, CA.

By REENA RATHORE

ARTESIA, CA – Over the past two decades, their mantra has been very concise: championing Indian craftsmanship on the world stage. Through their eponymous label, renowned Indian designers Shyamal and Bhumika, have consistently created pieces that can best be described as a dreamy confluence of designs steeped in Indian heritage and culture with modern silhouettes. And this Bollywood-favorite brand made their creations easily accessible to Indian Americans when they launched their flagship store here a few years ago.

Continuing their push toward capturing the grandeur of Indian fashion, the designer duo unveiled their impeccably crafted Spring Summer 2023 Couture Collection during a 3-day event which began March 3 at the Southern California store.

“The whole purpose of opening in Los Angeles is to give our American clients of South Asian origin a place to access the latest in Indian fashion,” Shyamal told India-West during a preview of the collection. “Taking inspiration from all around us, from the architectural grandeurs of our ancestral homes, heritage, and culture and with a certain complexity of design and detail, we combine traditional crafts and modern silhouettes. We use traditional craft in a new way that appeals to the modern aesthetic of brides and grooms in America, thus giving them a way to connect to their heritage and stay in-trend.”

Shyamal and Bhumika’s signature contrasting floral embroidery makes a distinct appearance throughout the collection, which exudes a fun, fresh and feminine aura.

With floral inspirations, free-flowing forms and romantic playful details, the collection is a poetic blend of hand-embroidered masterpieces, designed using age-old craft techniques in a mix of silhouettes and colors.

The collection includes voluminous exaggerated sleeves, floor-sweeping paneled as well as trailing lehengas, dramatic trailing veils and hemlines, bias skirts, sensuous blouses with plunging necklines, open shoulder bodices, fish-tail skirts, ruffled sarees, high collar, one-shoulder and halter neck blouses, pleated bustiers, and head veils.

Using subtle contrasts of vibrant colors and muted Indian pastels, with vintage mid-tones, jewel tones, think rich wine, muted ivory, emerald, intense pink, champagne gold, deep blue, English rose, smoky grey, dusty mint and raspberry red, the collection is as individualistic as it is universal. However, customizing your outfit is always an option while shopping with the brand.

“We do a lot of custom pieces to suit the cultural and special requirements of our clients. Almost every second bride wants some level of customization and we happily accept the challenge,” Shyamal explained. “In a period of 60-90 days, we customize exquisite pieces for our valued clients and make their dream look come true. All of the above happens within the aesthetic and theme of the Shyamal and Bhumika collection they choose.”

Shyamal shared that they draw inspiration from the architectural grandeurs of their ancestral homes, their personal travels, the tales they have grown up listening to, and from simply observing the natural world around them.

Bollywood celebrities seen sporting the brand include Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Katrina Kaif, Sara Ali Khan, Yami Gautam, Kiara Advani, Sonam Kapoor, Kajol and Juhi Chawla.

Considered one of India’s leading fashion houses today, the brand is also known for its work reviving age-old crafts and artisan techniques.

Over the years, Shyamal said they have worked with different dyeing, embroidery and even hand-stitching techniques, adding that in embroidery they use intricate aari, zardosi, resham, marodi and even appliqué, pitta and khaat to make each design unique by paying extreme attention to details and “blending our Indian aesthetic with modern sensibilities.”

Some of those techniques have been employed in this new collection.

“In the new collection, one can see ensembles overlaid with translucent sequinning and beautiful hand embroideries like aari, zardosi, peeta, hand embroidered shimmer, beadwork, appliqué and handcrafted silk threads embellished with crystals,” he elaborated. “The outfits emanate grace in soft muted tones, tropical florals, textural embroidery finished in silk threads and antique finish gold zari.”

Running a brand as big as theirs surely involves a lot of multitasking at multiple levels. The entrepreneurial couple works in tandem to realize their vision while tapping into their individual strengths.

“Our roles and responsibilities generally overlap and we prefer not to conform to specific roles. However, Bhumika is the fashion designer and technical expert and manages the design execution while I take the role of a creative director as well as spearhead the business and a bit of the operational side. We are always in discussion about varied topics that range from trending colors to business initiatives.”