When you think of Indian bridal wear, two brands always feature on top of most lists – Needledust and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. While Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla are legends in the fashion industry, Needledust is relatively new, but it has made a big impact in a short time. Their designs have revolutionised the traditional jutti and have been worn by Indian and international stars. So when the Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla X Needledust collection was released, we knew it would be really special.
We caught up with designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, and the founder of Needledust, Shirin Mann to get further insights into this gorgeous collection.
Why couturiers started designing shoes
From wedding wear to regular outfits, shoes play a huge role in completing your look. That’s why couture designers like Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla stepped into the world of footwear.
Talking about the reason behind collaborating with Needledust, Abu Sandeep told us, “Shoes are an essential part of personal style. And we like our’s fabulous. We were keen to begin our work in shoe design with an intrinsically Indian item of footwear. A classic jutti, reinvented for today. We were impressed by Needledust’s quality and commitment to innovation and technical excellence. Whether it is an outfit or footwear, it must feel as fabulous as it looks. That’s where Needledust’s quality comes in.”
Creating magic with juttis
“Our juttis feature the same techniques as our couture,” Abu Sandeep tell us. “Impossibly fine embroideries, motifs from nature, geometry and architecture, the extravagant use of colour as well as neutral palettes and a distinctly romantic stand apart attitude. This collection is an ode to our own personal design history…We have worked with silk thread embroidery, zardozi metal embroidery, mirror work, all of which are Abu Sandeep hallmarks.”
Talking about the collection from Needledust’s point of view, founder Shirin Mann told us how this collection was unlike anything they had done in the past.
“AJSK (Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla) are all things fun, quirky, experimental as well as strikingly beautiful,” Shirin says. “They understand this craft more than anyone else and are mentors to us on many levels. This couture collection is all about bringing ‘DRAMA’ on the floor and the pieces truly stand out with all types of garments. This line is different from what we have done before and that’s what is the most exciting aspect. The embroidery techniques and patterns are a visual treat.”
Combining tradition with modern aesthetics
To combine two different aesthetics and create something so unique is difficult. Abu Sandeep and Shirin spoke to us about how they handled these challenges while working together.
“We both worked on combining traditional craft with modern aesthetics,” Shirin tells us. “We used fine zardozi and mirror work and combined it with quirky and dramatic colours like fuchsia pink, red and bright yellow.”
Needledust has captured the hearts of millions of Indian brides as the perfect wedding shoes. Their juttis are colourful, comfortable and made with precision, something that Abu Sandeep also noticed.
“This line is a labour of love,” Abu Sandeep tell us. “Shirin’s pack brought an exceptional eye and unparalleled craftsmanship to the table. We share an uncompromising passion for finesse, detail, and flawless quality.”
Click here to buy juttis from the stunning Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla X Needledust collection.
