For Arjan Dugal, design is in his DNA. A Finance and Economics major with an avid love of Indian textiles and artforms, Arjan Dugal, son of the late former model & designer Simar Dugal, hails from a familial heritage of design dating back three generations. He is well-known for his eponymous menswear label since 2014.
In August 2021, Arjan took over as the Creative Head of the label Simar Dugal and spearheaded its first steps into couture fashion with a very successful bridal lehenga and alternative silhouette collection, amalgamating his modern touch with the classic evergreen “Simar Dugal” aesthetic of Indian craft & embroideries.
Arjan Dugal proudly unveils “Mahaaba” by Simar Dugal at Ensemble, Mumbai and at Simar Dugal studio in New Friends Colony, New Delhi from 16th August, 2022 . “Mahaaba” will also be the pride of the Simar Dugal flagship store opening soon at Emporio, New Delhi.
“Mahaaba” means love in Arabic, Romance in Swahili and can be translated to fifteen other languages all-encompassing the emotion of a beautiful romance!
“Each of our collection names is chosen with a lot of thought, to not only resonate with the label Simar Dugal but also as a reflection of our current emotion. Our F/W 2021 was named ‘Sahar’ which means a new dawn. That was actually the first complete collection which underwent the entire process from inception to execution after I took over as Creative Head of Simar Dugal”, says Arjan Dugal, Creative Head for Label Simar Dugal.
With Mahaaba, Arjan showcases a luxurious collection of kurtas, lehengas, saris and sharara sets in Indian fabrics, that spotlight a revival of ancient embroideries & craft forms like Gota, Naqshi, Dabka etc that can be worn by the women to signify the beauty of substance and self-confidence.
“With Mahaaba we express our extreme love for textiles and the art & crafts of India. It’s a fascination I inherited from my mother who was a collector of textiles, Kani and Jamawar shawls, Pichwais, Tankhas, and Suzanni blankets. Mahaaba is my homage to my mother and the treasured archives of textiles she collected”, adds Arjan.
New contemporary textures to enhance the delicate use of Gota in unique styles, unusual thread embroideries, Arjan’s love for maximalist color, embellishments and surface techniques come to the forefront as his unique handwriting for the Simar Dugal label while always retaining the original essence of her aesthetic !
The Simar Dugal label is for those who express their individuality and strength, with compassion & love. A celebration of India, its love, its romance, its vintage legacy, Mahaaba is for those special occasions, festivals and weddings where tasteful celebrations are a highlight.
“Prior to taking the helm of my mother’s label I was solely a menswear designer. Arjan Dugal as a brand is classic but modern and eclectic. Simar Dugal is a vintage, artistic brand with an eternal appeal. There are unique learnings across both labels for me in terms of textile, silhouettes and aesthetics that excite me. As we unveil Mahaaba, I am also proud to launch the flagship Simar Dugal store at Emporio, New Delhi later this month as well as reveal a new menswear line from Arjan Dugal in October 2022”, concludes Arjan.
