When you walk into the cool white interiors of Le Mill in Mumbai, you’ll find a poplin Bodice skirt hanging among silk separates by The Row, and Shift’s chevron stripes mingling with Mary Katrantzou’s riotous prints. Co-founder Cecilia Morelli Parikh tells us all about why she thinks these two young labels are the ‘New Indian Voice’ — a voice that has a local soul with a global attitude.
ELLE: Why these designers?
Cecilia Morelli Parikh: These are two designers who are using Indian fabrics, but thinking about fit and form first. To us, that is truly modern, a new direction in Indian fashion. They don’t rely on traditional statements such as print or embellishment to create their garments.
ELLE: What do you like most about their design aesthetic?
CMP: Like The Row, (one of our favourite brands), Sachdeva really puts a lot of research into her exceptional fabrics. Shah’s strength lies in the way his clothes balance masculinity with femininity, creating a whimsical style.
ELLE: How would you style your picks from their S/S 2015 collections?
CMP: I love Bodice’s short-sleeved beige jacket, which I would wear with anything and everything — with jeans while catching a flight or thrown over a slip dress for the evening. From Shift, I really love his khaki military dress. No need to style this, it’s best on its own.
ELLE: How would you describe the voice of Le Mill?
CMP: We like to think of our space as a curated one, where contem-porary designers from India and the world can stand side by side. We don’t support fast fashion, and every brand or even every piece here is one that we, ourselves, would want in our wardrobes forever.
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By AKANKSHA KAMATH June 11th, 2015
