This week we sat down the the incredibly talented designer Mané Virdee. With a glint of a sequin here, a flash of a metallic panel there; Mané creates capsule collections with a twist. Supported by Vogue and hand embellished by skilled artisans, each piece is exquisitely cut, crafted and adorned for a luxe laid back look that works across your wardrobe for every occasion.
Please tell us about your label and how it all began for you?
My brand specialises in hand embroidered womenswear. I always had plans to set up my own business since a very early age, knowing it would be something creative. After moving to India with my previous role where I was heading up the Embellishment Dept for British retailer AllSaints for several years, it felt like it was the right time to embark on my next chapter. I chose to stay in Delhi so that I could be near the markets and work closely with the artisans.
Mae Dress
What do you think it is that has drawn you into these intricate designs full of embellishment?
I seem to have have this unusual patience for anything intricate and detailed. I love how each embellishment becomes a piece of art and the meticulous planning that goes into making something appear so simple and yet when you look up close you can see all the tiny details.
Mané Pop Up at Ham Yard Village
Mané Pop Up at Ham Yard Village
What is your inspiration for your current collection?
My inspiration for the current collection comes from a variety of places – mainly the materials that I source at the beginning of every collection. I like to spend my time rummaging through the sequin market stalls in search of new colours and components – that is always my starting point.
I enjoy playing with textures, colours and also the contrast of geometric designs, so those are quite often the focal points of developing my concepts. You can see in the Ceto Range, its full of texture with rich emerald hues that transition into a contrasting mustard tone. The Freya range was inspired by vintage indigo block printed kimonos which were then transformed into something new by delicate and vibrant beads.
Ceto
Tell us about the design for our collaboration & the inspiration behind the Luna top?
Having spent years living in Delhi I hadn’t really referenced some of the key materials that are typical of Indian wear in my own range. The gold diamond that you can see is called Gota, which is a material that is used often on traditional indian clothing. I thought it would be great to adapt this into a modern, clean shape, hence the diamond which links in with the Noctis styles in the collection. The tassels and pearls add texture and definition to bring out the gold hues in the gota.
When The Restory and I discussed collaborating, it was great to see that we shared a passion for hand crafted products, along with an appreciation for the level of skill it takes to create them. We both share the love & care for the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into hand made items, for me in the sense of creating something new and for The Restory bringing pieces back to life.
We looked at my range collectively and the Luna Range was the perfect fit for an accessories collaboration. Adapting the gold gota element from the garment into another rich, traditional technique called Dapka. Each leather clip and charm is individually hand embellished so that no two are ever exactly the same.
Luna Range
Luna Range
Mané has a pop up in Ham Yard Village at 4 Denman Place until Sunday 24th December. Her full collection is available at the pop up, as well as the accessory collaboration with The Restory, it is also a drop point for any shoes, bags & items for repair/restoration.
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Facebook: MANÉ
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