inspirations...inspirations....
Profile
When the fashion market is being flooded by young, up-and-coming designers, 35-year-old Satyenkumar Patel made his commercially August debut at Harrods, on the Internet, and worldwide. Who, again? SATYENKUMAR. Based in Gloucestershire, the guy is from a British-Indian background. As a child, he was perplexed by the sight of his mum and his sister sewing and by the material itself. Yes, saris and South Asian finery. Though he did not kick off his first degree in fashion — he studied finance — it did not take him long to change his mind.
Satyenkumar studied for a diploma at Cheltenham College of Art; there he won a place at London College of Fashion; and he later did his Masters at Central Saint Martins. After graduation, he moved to Milan and worked on the menswear lines for Versace. In 2005, with warm support from his family, Satyenkumar decided to return to England and launched his own label.
Yes, for some, his name and his brand “Satyenkumar” might be a bit hard to pronounce but very quickly Satyenkumar’s design will grab your attention. English eccentricity is his inspiration but it does come with extra twists for the otherwise boring menswear. What’s the result? This fusion of traditional tailoring with sports-and-leisurewear. Some tweed effects are added into sweatshirts, while cardigans and tracksuits are given a tuxedo retouch. Not enough? Have a peek at Satyenkumar’s Autumn/Winter 08-09 collection. The military-meet-the-Martians theme is given an update with outta-space colour and tuxedo effects. There is this polychromatic sci-fi bomber with a black contrasting bib, and a white military-looking tuxedo shirt with a cumberband rib waistband and a contrast double fold placket, and many more. These are clothes that appeal toThe verdict? Satyenkumar’s collections have inarguably re-defined what we understand as casual and smart.
Insight
SS: What is the one feature you repeatedly use in all/most of your designs and why?
Satyenkumar: My mum and me... all screen prints every season bare mum's signature or D.O.B, in her memory and 'Satyenkumar' is in every design repeatedly as that's how she always knew me.
All clothes by Satyenkumar
Words: Poonperm Paitayawat
Illustration: Amy Brown
Photography: Krittiya Sriyabhandha
Make-up: Machiko Yano using MAC
Hair: Akiko
Models: (From left to right) Rob @ Oxygen, Kate @ Bookings, David Cross @ Oxygen