Minimalism with an Indian tadka

Come for the slouchy doublebreasted jacket with contrast Kantha the textured denim long coat with oversized lapels and the classic red blazer in painterly patterns Stay for the clean lines and sharp edges the glorious Indian textiles and the thoughtfully layered outerwear that blends form and functionLovebirdsrsquo autumnwinter 2024 collection is packed with pieces that combine style with tactile pleasuremdashfabrics yoursquoll want to touch and practical gestures like interior silk linings or patch pocketsmdashthat make life a little easierTen years into building Lovebirds the Delhibased brand founded by the husbandandwife duo Gursi Singh 40 and Amrita Khanna 42 continues to reimagine contemporary Indian fashion by stripping away ornamentation and distilling clothing to its most essential forms Minimalism has become their signature with inclusive tailoring as the cornerstone ldquoLovebirds collections have a protean qualitymdashversatile and easy transcending trends categories occasion age or genderrdquo says Vijendra Bhardwaj fashion director at Esquire India Graphic patterns collide with menrsquos tailoring in Lovebirdsrsquo minimalistic reimagining of the classic floral motif Left A doublebreasted taffeta jacket with dropshoulder sleeves and embroidered lily patchwork right a digital print doublebreasted blazer blending narrow boxy tailoring and artistic floralsThey are designers who slice through the pomp and excesses of Indiarsquos bridal fashion with the precision of a tailorrsquos scissors crafting designs that allow room for the bodymdashdeliberately loose refined and distinctly modern This makes them particularly relevant now both as a respite and rescue from the oversugared decoration and logostamped streetwear that dominate the landscapeTina Tahiliani Parikh executive director at Ensemble a chain of multibrand retail stores recalls how Lovebirds embraced the antifit trend early on ldquoThey understood the appeal of relaxed versatile styles Over the years they have sharpened their designs and evolved into an internationally recognised cool fashionable brand with as much vision as stylerdquoReflecting on their commitment to the design philosophy Singh says ldquoWersquove always wanted our clothing to be for everyone Even now yoursquoll find antifit pieces in our storemdashyouthful designs for those who want to feel young and eclectic shapes that donrsquot need to be formfittingrdquoLovebirds gives the long overcoat a fresh twist with an extrayarn slanted stripe design featuring diagonal stripes a lapel collar and a matching beltKhanna continues ldquoWe constantly ask ourselves lsquoAre we creating something for everyonersquo We want to offer pieces that work for a range of preferences and occasions For example wersquove introduced belts as an addon for those who want a fitted silhouette that will take them from desk to dinner Our goal is to ensure that everyone who walks into the store finds something they loverdquo Over the past decade Lovebirds has grown a lot adding menswear jewellery and accessories to its portfolio and opening flagship stores in Delhi Gurugram and MumbaiLovebirdsrsquo commercial and cultural success stems from its unwavering championing of individuality with outerwear now a defining pillar of this vision As global demand for expressive identitydriven clothing continues to rise outerwear has emerged as one of the most coveted segments Singh sees tremendous potential in this space ldquoTherersquos a gap waiting to be filled No one takes it seriously yet everyone needs itrdquoHistorically outerwear has been seen as big coatsmdashtopcoats parkas or trench coatsmdashworn over suits or sweaters for utility rather than looks like a prophylactic against the weather ldquoToday however men understand the value of great outerwearmdashand the fact that these arenrsquot just galoshes for the body Outerwear is your outermost shell noticed first whether yoursquore going to a club a party or the office Itrsquos the first impressionrdquo Bhardwaj explainsAmrita Khanna and Gursi Singh of LovebirdsldquoInitially we designed with the global market in mind especially for winter wearrdquo Khanna says ldquoBut with snowballing demand in India for functional stylish outerwear itrsquos now a core part of our collection Outerwear is no longer just for special occasions itrsquos become a staple in everyday wardrobesrdquoImagine a substantial jacket with rounded shoulders and measured waist entirely unadorned except for delicately embroidered lily patchwork on the left front panel and shoulder Other statement pieces include the frosty wool coat with frayed details and monotone textures and the colourblocked lazerwool jacket ldquoThe brand favours timeless elements in outerwear a nonjarring colour palette that suits any wardrobe cuts that flatter most frames and elegant surface treatments Their pieces compliment a wide range of ages professions ethnicities and gender identitiesrdquo shares BhardwajLovebirdsrsquo outerwear has gained a foothold in key international markets with pieces like the wool merino dresses and jackets now sharing shelf space with global brands at Harvey Nichols in London From a homegrown name the brand has expanded globally now stocked at multidesigner outlets including Neiman Marcus US Beams Japan David Jones Australia and Liberty and Fenwick UK With more than 40 per cent of its revenue coming from international markets the brand has established itself as a significant player in the global fashion landscapeVijendra Bhardwaj fashion director Esquire India right Tina Tahiliani Parikh executive director EnsembleBut through it all theyrsquove remained grounded in their origins ldquoFrom the very start wersquove woven Indian handcrafts into our collectionsrdquo Singh says ldquoFor our first fallwinter collection we sourced Merino wool from Kullumdasha relationship we continue to nurturerdquo The brand also works with traditional techniques like handblock and screen printing jacquard and linen weaving from Bengal and handwoven denims from Gujarat collaborating with artisans whose embroidery ties each piece to Indiarsquos craft heritageldquoIndian handcrafts are an assetrdquo Singh stresses ldquoWersquove always seen them as such We donrsquot use them as a marketing toolmdashthey are simply part of our DNA Living in this ecosystem we have no choice but to work with the best materials available and the quality of Indiarsquos textile traditions is unmatchedrdquoldquoWersquore a hundred per cent Indian brandrdquo Khanna adds ldquoOur designs are modern sure and they have international appeal but theyrsquore always rooted in Indian handcrafts We bring a global sensibility to our work but at the heart we remain proudly IndianrdquoOuter beautyOuterwear is more than just a practical layermdashitrsquos the statement piece that defines personal style Whether itrsquos a heavy coat shielding you from the winter chill a preppy sweater or a denim jacket that adds a rockandroll edge to your look outerwear works double duty it protects it elevates it completes