The Pioneer brings to you this unique 3D collection by award-winning celebrity designer Zeel Agarwal, which brings a unique fusion of 3D effects and embellishment collections, creating a one-of-kind fashion statement.
Tejal Sinha
Award winning designer Zeel Agarwal is on a mission to bring in new advancements in the fashion industry by integrating disruptive 3D technology.3D effects coupled with fashion? If this isn’t innovative, what is? To delve deeper into the topic, The Pioneer interacted with celebrity designer Zeel Agarwal and she not only shares exclusive insights about her 3D collection, but also takes us through her journey, and the fashion fusion trend.
It was during her childhood that fashion piqued Zeel’s interest. “Everything for me is fashion, fashion, fashion,” said the enthusiastic Zeel. “This was something that I wanted to do since I was a kid and I feel grateful to be doing something and pursuing something which was a childhood dream for me. I’m so much connected with this since childhood.
My mom used to run a boutique and I used to see all those fabrics, the way embroidery was done and sometimes used to go at her workplace and get very happy, seeing her clients all dressed up. Clothes are something that boosts your confidence and brings happiness.”
The young Zeel somewhere knew she wanted to thrive in the fashion industry but she wasn’t sure about what she’d be doing in the field. “By the age of 13, I didn’t know what I would do in fashion. And back then every kid just knew one fashion designer, Manish Malhotra. I used to see every celebrity wearing his designs. And I had been manifesting since then that every celebrity would be wearing my designs,” recalled the Aadhi Aabadi Award recipient.
People with a creative temperament often find themselves in a tricky situation when people don’t understand their work. Zeel too had been in the same place years ago, “Making your own mark which is not there in the market is a challenge. Within the 8 years since the brand began, we had pandemic, demonetisation and all but I never gave up because this is what I have learned from my mom. People back then didn’t understand my craft and embroidery because they had something else in mind. I didn’t change my working pattern and sticker to it.”
Talking about the fashion-fusion trend, the young designer said, “Fashion fusion has been in the industry for a very long time. It’s not something unique but how we are doing has changed. It’s been in the vintage era, 90’s era. Old fashion vintage fashion comes back in trend. I love mixing up trends with vintage fashion. I am very fond of periodicals. I watch movies or series that are vintage. I literally see and adore their gowns, crafts, necklines, sleeves, etc. and then I think of how I can twist it. Fusion can be created from the vintage fashion by recreating or re crafting. Old is gold and it gives you a lot of inspiration and a lot of ideas because back then also that level of work was there.”
More often than not, illusions are created in people’s minds that certain styles may not suit them due to the influence of others. Zeel has helped people try on styles that they had never worn before because they believed that those styles were not suitable for them.
She also offered them products free of cost if they were not satisfied, and they ended up wearing those styles and falling in love with them. It is simply a matter of incorrect influence and perceptions. She feels that it is important to find one’s own style that defines one and their persona, as clothing plays a significant role, not what others want to see.
Coming to her latest collection, it is a unique fusion of 3D effects and embellishments to create a fashion statement that is truly one-of-a-kind. The collection showcases a stunning range of clothing items, including dresses, tops and skirts, each designed with intricate details and beautiful embellishments that take your breath away.What sets this collection apart is the use of 3D effect technology, which creates an illusion of depth and dimension that is simply mesmerizing.
Sharing with us more insights about this unique fusion, Zeel shares, “For the collection, we have 3D flowers, ruffles, frills, and with those frills we are creating a 3D design, shapes, sea shells and giving an illusionary effect. The best thing is that every design that we have created is different. Every design has a name, and inspiration and according to the inspiration it is designed. Even the embroidery here is telling a story. It’s not just a 3D effect but a story that we are trying to tell through the design and outfit. We have used a beautiful colour palette, and we have different kinds of materials that are not even used in embroidery but to give that 3D effect we are using.”
Bringing up such distinctive fusion, we were eager to know the process behind the making of the collection, and she says, “The process is really time-taking because we have to create the base first. We have to create different drafts of the patterns first. In order to give that realistic look, create samples and then create the 3D flowers or petals or whatever inspiration it has. We have taken a shaded effect in many of it. We try to give a very natural look so what we try to do is we try to go with the lightest of the colours to the darkest.”
With trying out such a concept comes along huge challenges too. For instance, Zeel says, “It’s been challenging because it’s not about sketching on a paper. You have to make the design into reality and to give those effects and look. If you want to make something, people should be able to relate to it. Through embroidery you can but with 3D effect you have to make that pattern work. You have to create a pattern first.
Me and masterji ended up wasting a bunch of clothes, papers to create patterns because obviously we din’t knew how to pattern it and more than that the challenge was there is embroidery on the pattern. A single mistake and your design is wasted. Then you have to again start it from the scratch plus the fabrics and materials are expensive.
I have roamed around different cities like for gemstones to Jaipur, to collect the material. I had no idea what designs I wanted to create but searched for materials and went to the shops personally. I always believed that nothing is impossible, and we worked it out. We still have designs that are on paper but they are yet to be designed and trying out best to give a very real look.”
