Ramya Katta transforming Fusion and Bridal wear into Timeless and Wearable art.

Every girl wants to look her best on her wedding day and designer Ramya Katta, known for her exclusive bridal pieces, helps brides do just that. The young Bangalore-based designer completed her fashion studies and forayed into the world of design last year with the sole aim of transforming bridal and fusion wear into timeless, wearable art. In an interview with Deepa Natarajan, the owner of the much-popular label Ramya Katta Couture talks about her brand and offers tips to look your best on the big day. BV: Did you always want to get into fashion? Ramya: As a child, I was always fascinated by the grandeur of bridal wear and Indian garments. The designs inspire me – the rich hues, structured cuts, delicate embroidery, and embellishments, together with help create a spectacular masterpiece. My curiosity and fascination led me to take up fashion and figure out all the elements which go into creating such grand artwork.   BV: Tell us a bit about the inception of Ramya Katta Couture? How did you come up with the idea for it? Ramya: I wanted to reinvent bridal wear for vivacious and practical brides while still encompassing the princess dream in my designs. That led me to launch the design label mid-2018. The brand desires to transform bridal and fusion wear into timeless, wearable masterpieces. Inspired by modern design techniques and cuts, the design house amalgamates rich Indian designs aesthetics with contemporary silhouettes for cosmopolitan brides. BV: How different is Ramya Katta Couture than the other wedding labels in the market? Ramya: Each of our outfits are crafted with great detail and not replicated. Designs are unique and cut in silhouettes to flatter body shapes for the brides of today. On request, we also create outfits styled in multiple ways making them heirloom trousseau.   BV: Do you also design Western bridal outfits? Ramya: We have a unique line of fusion wear, which is an amalgamation of traditional silhouettes infused with contemporary design aspects. Our fusion wear collection includes floor length gowns, jackets, capes, palazzos, crop-tops, tunics and more. We blend the two elements to produce the finest fusion ensembles for the everyday Indo-Western look. BV: What are the current trends when it comes to colors, silhouettes, drapes, etc.? Ramya: More women are opting for dainty pastel shades and deep jewel tones for their bridal ‘lehenga’ or sari. In 2019, we anticipate an increase in the usage of lilacs, salmon pink, mint green and shades of coral for the day. Brides will also opt for emerald, ruby, and sapphire-based tones for evening looks. Many brides are also going for capes, ruffles, pleats, and layers to add a touch of drama to their bridal outfit.   BV: A wedding is incomplete without the smaller functions like Mehendi, sangeet and cocktail party. What should the brides keep in mind when it comes to these functions? Ramya: Events like ‘Mehendi’ take place in the morning. For a morning or day affair, one should go for a nude look and drape yourself with pastel shades of mint green, dusty rose, salmon pink, or lilac. The Pantone colour of the year, ‘Living coral’ is yet another fabulous shade for the season. It is young, vibrant and strikes a perfect balance with the exuberance and freshness of the day. As for cocktail parties and evening galas, flaunt gorgeous jewel-tones of sapphire, ruby, amethyst, and emerald. Accessorize with thick bejewelled chokers to make heads turn. BV: Considering the stress associated with weddings, how do brides strike the perfect look on their wedding day? Ramya: Every bride wants to look the most striking on her wedding day – clad in the perfect attire, accessorized in distinctive jewelry.  The dreamscape set-up must consist of her favourite flowers, colours, decor, closest friends and relatives and the man of her dreams. Along with these extraneous factors, what a bride dons makes history and is part of the beautiful memories of the day. We incorporate the bride’s theme hue and her desired design elements to create an outfit which accentuates not only her unique body shape but also enhances her complexion while highlighting her distinct persona embellishment and designs.   BV: How does one make a wedding wear affordable? Ramya: In India, we spend a fortune on our wedding outfit.  After the wedding, it is almost never re-worn, hung in closets or carefully wrapped to be passed down to the next generations. But trends and styles change, making old masterpieces unwanted and obsolete. To offer a unique solution to this age-old problem, the label is focused to create outfits that can be styled multiple ways making them wardrobe hits. After the wedding, the bride can bring the outfit back for a restyle making it worth the big spend. BV: What are your future plans? Ramya: We currently operate from Bangalore. In the future, we plan on expanding and setting up an end-to-end manufacturing unit to facilitate seamless production design creations. We constantly strive to deliver stylish cuts, chic artwork and evolve as one of the noteworthy bridal couture creators of this time. To know such incredible personalities, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Download our magazine Spunky Indian for exclusive stories.