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Swati Poddar: Committed To Promote Fashion Trend With A ‘Mass’ Tag


 

During her brief internship with NORP Knit Industries in Dhaka, her commitment became stronger and the first thing that she did after her marriage with Kartikeya in Agra, was to set up her own outfit that would translate her dream into reality.  

Researching and exploring and using her experience with working for Madura Garments in Bangalore as chief fashion merchandiser where she handled big brands like Armani, FCuk, Marks and Spencer and Levis, she hit upon the idea of educating and grooming upcoming fashion designers in Agra through her own institution.

"Agra has tremendous potential, the kids are bright and highly creative, all they need is proper guidance and tuning with the international market scenario. The existing facilities have serious flaws and the gaps need to be bridged," Swati told Times of Agra, She is particularly focused on training young girls to empower them so that they become net assets to their families.

Talking of fashion, Swati says "in our country it is beginning to develop into a major industry with huge potential for employment and using the local resources which have a world wide appeal."

Look at the growing popularity of international events such as the India Fashion Week and annual shows by fashion designers in the major cities of India, she adds.

According to her India is renowned for its rich and assorted textile tradition. It is truly a wonder that each and every region of India has its own exclusive native attire and traditional apparel, for example Gopi Dress in Vrindaban.

"Most of the rural population still wears traditional clothes, urban India is changing fast with new path breaking international brands reflected by the young and exciting, in the multi-ethnic major cities of India. Indian fashion industry is nothing but vivacious. It is still an emerging industry where many new models and designers are waiting in the wings to showcase their huge talents to the world. With this idea of giving a platform to designers, Swati Poddar told Agratoday.in.

Basically a Delhi-ite, she did her graduation from Lady Irwin College, Delhi University and post graduate from Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF), New Delhi.

Now settled in Agra Swati is determined to set an example for other girls that the place "doesn’t really matter, rather you can do something meaningful for others and for yourself by sharing your knowledge and expertise for the aspirants and youngsters around."

Her mission now is to provide excellent training facilities in Agra, not only for the locals but towns like Mathura, Firozabad, Hathras, Bharatpur, Aligarh. Swati feels it is a myth that fashion means highly priced attires with godly appearance. "We promote simplicity in fashion and interiors, where the student will learn to use simple and less expensive things around and put their imagination in creating a different and exclusive product for themselves and for others. Fashion and Interiors are two things which is applicable even for homemakers as they always will be taking care of their family’s wardrobe and appearance of their house. They don’t need to hire a costly expert for the same and instead they can themselves work for themselves and others. Wherever they settle after marriage they can use this talent professionally in any part of the country."

Parents these days are very serious about the education for their kids. This indeed is a welcome change calling for holistic all round development of the student in academics, executive communication, presentation, personality grooming etc. 

"I am keen to rediscover the heritage cultural beauty of Agra which is somewhere lost in Westerns brands, our Brij region has the most beautiful and appealing dressing since the days of Lord Krishna and Radha. Experimentation is the key where we will work on our traditional dresses and give them a new contemporary and cool look. We have so much of cultural wealth in our and neighboring cities, cultures like Brij, mughal and Rajasthani are still deeply embedded in our hearts. Unfortunately no institute or organization is working for this idea and henceforth we felt there is an urgent need to restore our true identity and don’t just get lost in Western influences."