'Crossover look is here to stay.' says Turtle's Shitanshu Jhunjhunwalla

A leading men’s lifestyle brand, Turtle, has been dressing men in latest styles for many years. The Kolkata-based brand has made a mark for itself with its formal as well as casual collections. In keeping with its philosophy of offering the best, this season Turtle brings two new looks – Crossover Business and Diners Club along with its Autumn/Winter ’16 collection.

For A/W ’16, the focus is on trends. The range includes mélange shirts, prints on corduroys, special line of printed khadi shirts, an exclusive range of tuxedo shirts and blazers. Knitted denim bottom range includes indigo corduroy bottoms in various tints and tones of blues. There are also a line of uncut velvet and wrinkle free chinos. In the formal line, there are two looks: ‘Crossover Business’ which is business with sporty detailing, and ‘Diners Club’ which is all about elegant formals with evening wear look.

Friday Dressing made fashionable

“Both semi-casual and semi-formal shirts have a crossover connotation. They are like ‘Friday Dressing’ with fashion elements. Their color palette is mixed with colours which range from sober to fun. Designs are subtle. In contrast, casual and formal shirts are specific to their genres,” says Shitanshu Jhunjhunwalla, Director, Turtle. The casual colour palette is bright, outgoing with various cuts and patterns. In formals, colours like grey, beige and blue dominate with minimalistic styling details. “Semi-formal and -casual shirts overlap to an extent. The difference is created in design pattern, styling, colour and trims. Semi-casual shirts are muted colours and styling vis-a-vis casual shirts. One can wear them for both as Friday and Saturday Dressing. And when it comes to semi-formal and formal, the latter has limited basket of colours and designs. Blues, greys, blacks, whites, creams with oxfords, filafils, chambrays and few others are the main stay of the formal category. And in semi-formal, there is more room to play with design, size and colours,” he explains.

Relax is the keyword to dressing up

Jhunjhunwalla, believes casual has an upper hand. Brands are making a conscious effort to have a relaxed approach in shirts with styling and trims. ‘Relax’ is the keyword. “The crossover look is here to stay. People prefer wearing clothes to office which they can also carry off to a social do, with minimal change in ensemble,” he avers. So, the semi-formal and casual range of shirts, have increased their stretch. And this change is for the long run. Jhunjhunwalla adds, “In value terms, the men’s shirts market in India contributes 36 percent of the total menswear in the country. And the market is growing at a CAGR of 9 percent. In terms of volume, men’s shirts market contributes 23.2 percent of the total menswear market.”

Turtle has around 100 EBOs and 1,500 MBOs across the country in over 400 cities. The brand is also present in all leading large format stores across India like Shoppers Stop, Central, Reliance Retail, and Pantaloons etc.