Gadi's creations make waves

He may be new face in the world of fashion, coming from the state of Arunachal Pradesh but designer Jenjum Gadi has created a buzz. At the recent Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW) his tribal collection heavily inspired by his homeland was much talked about. The only designer to have made it to the fashion circuit, Gadi’s designs showcased a myriad mixtures of colourful wrap-around worn by locals that differ from community to community of Arunachal. Heavy jewellery is also part of their attire. All these aspects were seen peeping through Gadi’s creations. He also used raw material sourced from his hometown.

And though he explains that he does not deliberately bring in the flavours of region into his designs, they somehow crop up creating a great fusion of urban clothing with a tribal twist. He says he dislikes plain surfaces and always tries to add a new dimension to his clothes either with embroidery or draping. A flattering body form is what he aims for and the camouflage effect his clothes offer is greatly appreciated by his clients.

A peek into Gadi’s life reveals a story as fascinating as his work. From a small village of Tirbin in Arunachal, he was sent to a boarding school. And though he didn’t show keen interest in studies, his creative bend towards activities like clay-modelling, tailoring and gardening was seen even during those early days. His enrolment for a design course at the UK-affiliated Wigan & Leigh College saw him top the class and he joined Rohit Bal, a stint that lasted only seven months.

He then joined hands with a WLC batchmate Jasleen Kochhar and launched the label ‘Koga’. And when Kochhar moved on to join her family business, Gadi changed his label to ‘Jenjum Gadi.’ Working out of his Shahpur Jat studio, Gadi caters to a sizeable list of international and local clientele.