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Jul 2006 - Deepa Panchamia - Wedding Wonderland |
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Inspiration Feature in Coats Crafts UK www.coatscrafts.co.uk If you want to look really special for a wedding, or to be the belle of the ball, then Deepa Panchamia’s designs for dresses and accessories, including exotic headpieces and pleated silk shoes, may give you food for thought. You will find her, along with several other textile designers featured in this issue such as Alison Willoughby and Rachael Howard, at www.hiddenartlondon.co.uk. Deepa works primarily in natural fabrics such as leather and silk and combines translucent materials like netting and organza with opaque fabrics in unusually structured designs, many of which are pleated or created from hundreds of tiny pockets. Her initial inspiration came from shells and she tries in her designs to translate the same kind of surface texture, subtle colours and organic structure into fabric. Having graduated from art college only a few years ago, she has quickly made a name for herself and has several exhibitions to her credit. Her garment designs are brilliantly contemporary yet delightfully feminine, her fabric structures drawing on the traditions of master textile designers like Fortuny. She also creates exquisite panels and hangings for interiors. Deepa works primarily to commission (a one-off design costs between £150 and £2000), and her work has been paraded on the Croisette at Cannes and on the catwalk at the Action Aid Fashion show in London last year. If you want to get the Deepa look for a wedding or ball dress, go for pieced designs (pick inexpensive remanants of beautiful fabrics) in elegant panelled and seamed shapes. Deepa will be exhibiting her textile collection at London Design Festival 2006 (15–30 September 2006). All details can be found on her website (www.deepapanchamia.com) or at www.londondesignfestival.com
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