What is your collection about?

 

This time, since I showed at Lakmé Fashion Week after a year and a half, I was keen on showing off my personal style. No matter how varied my themes are, you will see my design concepts coming through – predominantly masculine, military in thought but still quite fun.

 

I have played a lot with kurtas – they are pleated, shorter, formal kurtas with round bottoms and back zippers. It was also the first time I experimented with embroidery. This collection also has a lot of laser cuts and beadwork in subtle camouflage versions. I have used a lot of metal for detailing and techniques like appliquéing this time. I have also used reflective fabric in the collection, which I thought was pretty exciting. But a lot of people missed the point of the whole reflector thing because I didn’t play it up.

 

Talking about the signature Kunal Rawal look, what do you think are your key pieces that you are best known for?

 

I think my signature pieces are my kurta-churidar-koti sets, kurtas with metal insignias and buttons and my western jackets. Yeah, they are what you’ll instantly recognise as Kunal Rawal pieces.

 

You have been doing a lot of costume designing for films in the past years. Which are the films you had most fun working on?

 

I’m somebody who loves working on period films. I got to work on period costumes for Teri Meri Kahaani, where we did three different eras. I also loved working on Once Upon a Time in Mumbai and Shootout at Wadala. Honestly, I enjoy working on commercial movies as well. There’s a different way to showcase your designs in a commercial film, which is exactly what we did in songs like Saree Ke Fall Sa, Galat Baat Hai, Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai. Designing for the title song of Besharam was also fun because that’s where we got to show something very different and bold and Ranbir pulled off those shark fin sleeves really well. Desi Boys was a fun film for me. Aisha was important film as a fashion designer. The film that I’m excited about right now is Jagga Jasoos.

 

What are the must-haves in a man’s wardrobe?

 

I think we are a chameleon generation. People want to dress a bit outside their comfort zone and have different looks for different occasions. So keeping that in mind, I think a man’s wardrobe should have a lightweight jacket, a koti, comfortable pair of slick black track pants, black Oxford shoes, white shirts, unwashed indigo blue jeans, a stylish blazer for a day-to-night look, one pocket square, a backpack, a headgear for your bad hair days, socks and a hooded jacket.

 

Wearing shoes without sock is a big trend off late. Do you think that works?

 

Because of our climate, it is not preferable to go without socks. But if men are into that kind of a trend, then go for ballet socks or athletic socks which stay hidden and meet the requirement.