INTERNSHIP REPORt *

*brief

04

05

08

06

018

THE CHOICE

THE OBJECTIVES

THE BRAND | PROFILE

THE EXPLORATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

THE RESOURCES

The choiceThe OBJECTIVES

His has the element of simplicity being tapped through clean line silhouettes yet not failing in leading to a curiosity and a sense of admiration in the passers by and critiques, through experimental textural play in fabrics. Fabrics, which are all hand-woven and sustainable. His is Akaaro and he is Gaurav Jai Gupta.

And was rightly termed by a coveted English textile magazine, Selvedge, Gaurav Jai Gupta of Akaaro’s work was as much as a cultural regeneration program as a textile label.Thereafter, working under a textile designer by qualifications and fashion designer by profession, was a choice made to have insights beyond dress-making. For I, being a fashion student, have fabric at my disposal to communicate my designs and design concepts.

To get exposed to the prevalent commercial and industrial practice and reinforce theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

To develop the ability to work as an effective and willing member of a team and sharpen problem-solving skills.

To get an understanding of the pressure of the fast-moving industry.

To analyze and reflect personal design philosophy.

4 | 5

To get exposed to the prevalent commercial and industrial practice and reinforce theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

To develop the ability to work as an effective and willing member of a team and sharpen problem-solving skills.

To get an understanding of the pressure of the fast-moving industry.

To analyze and reflect personal design philosophy.

The Brand

Profile

Trained at Chelsea College of Art and Design London in Woven Textiles and National Institute of Fashion Technology Delhi in Fashion and Graphics, Gaurav makes clothes, fashion accessories and sustainable lifestyle products. Interna-

tionally, he debuted at the prestigious ORIGIN: The London Craft fair in 2007 under the name of his design studio AKAARO based out of Delhi and has been

regular ever since.

The brand name has its origin in a Sanskrit word which means the letter "a".Hand-woven and made in India, they produce works which are engineered and cutting edge. Marked by a generic concept of color and material which corre-

sponds to an innate human need to embellish one's self and surroundings, Akaaro is intent on producing woven classics.

6 | 7

The INVOLVEMENTThe EXPLORATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

By getting to work with a progressive brand like Akaaro, I was entrusted upon with a variety of tasks, small or big, both.At first, the concept for the upcoming collection for Autumn Winter 2011 was put across for thorough research, form development, design exploration and sampling, final design development, pattern making and toiles. The concept is Golden Rule of Proportion.

The information from different sources was then complied and referred to. The research archive included data and visuals, with reference to golden rule of proportion prevalent in architecture and the photographs that captured the golden rule of proportion across nature.

Next, forms and silhouettes were derived from the visuals . The forms were further explored by permutations and combinations of various techniques such as repetition, distortion; to name a few. Simultaneously, samples of patchwork, quilting, boning, tucking, pleating and different techniques , in small scale were being developed for a fair idea and look of a particular exploration in practical.

Throughout while still generating and exploring new forms, the ones which were finalized from the previously attempted samples and exploration, were further taken ahead till the stage of toile. Patterns and toiles for the designs developed were undertaken by myself with an assistance of the in-house pattern master.

The EXPLORATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

8 | 9

FORM GENERATION

10 | 11

12 | 13Design exploration

Design Development

The Resources

Materials (yarns) used in the production of fabric:

- Silk (the warp is set in Kolkata, West Bengal)

- Wool

- Cotton (most of the production done in-house)

- Lycra: Through its insertion in the weft, stretch ability and textures are gained

- Velvet

- Steel: Besides being using natural and protein yarns , Akaaro also uses steel wires in weft. Although the research is in progress about the reliability and wear ability of steel in textiles would be used for garments but they have produced number of samples using steel wires for home furnishing and for their apparel collection. The steel wires are sourced from Jindal Stainless Steel Ltd.The benefit of using steel wire is that after completion of sample and removed from loom, it can be crushed by hand to derive several forms besides molding it in a way desired. Due to metallic nature of steel wire , the shape given to the fabric, remains the same for quite a long time until touched.

The Resources

18 | 19

Pattern making and toiles

Internship tenure: Dec ‘11 to Feb ’12

Strengths within the industry:- Pattern Making- Print Design

All photoshoot images are a copyright of Akaaro. All rights reserved.

All photoshoot images are a copyright of Akaaro. All rights reserved.