A wedding is an important occasion for not only the bride and groom, but also the entire family. Don't we all know the pre-wedding stress of finding that perfect sari, ghagra choli or gown that will suit every occasion? The Calantha bridal collection is a one-stop store that has some interesting clothes and accessories on offer. Sudhir Swain, Calantha's design director, speaks of the range of Calantha's bridal wear. “We established Calantha Bridal in Bangalore one and half years ago. Ever since, we've had a steady clientele, particularly NRIs, who have appreciated our collection. We've designed garments for every occasion, from mehendi, sangeet, cocktails to the wedding. Our creations include clothes for every member of the family, not only the bride and groom.”
Great care has been taken to design each creation so as to suit the cultural values of the occasion. It's a mix of the traditional and the contemporary to lend a royal look to the clothes. The sangeet collection has lehenga corsets, sarees with blouses, kalidar sets etc., in white, gold and orange colours. The reception attire has corsets, fishtail skirts, velvet blouses and chiffon, silk, tissue and satin gowns.
The wedding collection has quite a variety on offer. It brings bold colour palettes and layered textured fabrics to a Balinese wedding or elaborate draping and hand-embroidery to an Indian wedding. The materials used are mostly georgettes, velvet, tissues and brocades, embellished with dainty embroidery and Swarovski stones. The colours are spellbinding, from deep pinks, red wines to white, peach, orange and gold.
Calantha has always been inspired by era-embracing themes. The Victorian damask is among its most impressive collection. The saris, lehengas and corset blouses are designed with antique gold and water silver beaten work with zardosi, sequin and beads. The creations come in a variety of colours: orange, peach fuschia, royal blues and greys.
Calantha also designs corsets, bridesmaid dresses, honeymoon kaftans and gowns, heavily-embroidered and traditional blouses and anarkali suits. “Even if a customer has bought a sari from another store, we can provide custom-made blouses for them,” informs Sudhir. Also, a customer can approach Calantha's designers to discuss their requirements, including style, fabric and colour preferences. They will custom-design creations with satins, lace and intricate detailing.
There are also elegant wedding wear for men that include contemporary kurtas to Bandgalas and tailored Sherwanis teamed up with Jodhpuri pants.