Founded by hotelier Aishwarya Nair Mathew in October last year, Aligne’s classic essentials aim to enable conscious consumption. Mathew, who juggles several ventures (she is a wine consultant and the owner of a vegan food brand, besides being a hotelier and a designer) understands the needs of a busy woman. The brand’s first capsule collection titled ‘Elemental’ featured shirt dresses, draped tops and formal pants—perfectly tailored and ideal for layering.
Aishwarya Nair Mathew
ELLE: Did you always want to become a designer?
Aishwarya Nair Mathew: Design is an integral part of my life—be it for a menu or a piece of clothing. My personal eclectic style coupled with my love for fashion and writing allowed me to envision a brand that exists to empower the modern woman’s life through design.
Satin top
Cotton satin dress
ELLE: How has your journey been?
ANM: Starting a new business in fashion is an enormous task. You are competing with big players and a large market that has a varied sense of style. I have been cheated by various vendors and manufacturers because of my initial lack of knowledge, but I strongly believe that you live and learn, and then triumph.
Crepe top
Satin slip dress
ELLE: Which is your favourite piece from the collection?
ANM: I love the shirt jacket dress, which I layer over the skinny strap shift dress. Sometimes, I style it as is, leaving the buttons open as a sexy shirt dress with statement jewellery, and of course fantastic shoes.
Crepe top
ELLE: Who do you envision wearing your creations?
ANM: Deepika Padukone, Anushka Nadia Menon and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Actor Anushka Sharma in Aligne
ELLE: What’s next?
ANM: I have plans to branch out into beauty, spiritual products, decor and accessories. I aspire to create a lifestyle philosophy around conscious consumption and modern spiritualism.
Satin top
