Seasoned Style

Soltee’s new bridal collections will keep you looking sweet

ARTICLE BY : Abha Shah

Indian designer Sulakshana Monga is the powerhouse behind Soltee, a luxury couturier specialising in high fashion, Indian and Indo-Western collections. With the new AW15 collection poised to launch in stores very soon, we sat down for a quick chat with Soltee’s chief to discuss all things bridalwear.

Red is the universal hue for a traditional Asian bride, but what colour would Soltee regard as timeless?
Well, you can't beat red for a traditional Asian wedding outfit. It's as ubiquitous to Asian culture as white is in western weddings. But I think red is simply an umbrella shade; there are a spectrum of tones within the colour which allows us to reinvent and re-present it with different designs.
Crimson, oxblood, rust, bubblegum red; the scope is huge and the possibilities are exciting. We use different shades of red when designing bridalwear to offer clients a new twist on a time-honoured hue. Our AW15 collection features tomato red with flashes of sunset orange.

What was the inspiration behind the AW15 collection?
Predominantly nature, and the huge bounty of colours and textures it offers in the form of flowers. The AW15 collection is highly nature oriented, borrowing natural, earthy shades such as greens and nudes as well as the shimmery effect of light on water. Florals were also a huge muse for us in terms of colour ways.

Left to right: Founder, Sulakshana Monga • Co-Founders, Soltee UK - Bilkis Siddat, Salma Patel, Khadijha Tai

What are the key fashion trends for the 2015 bride?
This year, brides are celebrating their youth and femininity with sexy and vibrant looks, yet retaining that sophisticated polish for their Big Day. We know that brides cherish versatility, so Soltee's bridalwear collections are designed with this in mind.

Tell us about your bespoke bridal service
We make our consultations, fittings and advice individual; completely tailored to the client and their needs. We take on board suggestions from our brides and combine it with our expertise to create a stunning gown that is truly 'her'. We find that when we unite a client's imagination with our knowledge and experience, it's the winning formula to the ultimate wedding attire.

Your designs unite east and west – who, or what, is your inspiration for the Western touches?
We subscribe to a trend report which shows us the key styles around the world and allows us to remain at the forefront of our designing game. We'll use the research as a springboard for our sketches, all the while keeping in mind the Indian sensibility, and combine that with the international market.
The end result is a seamlessly global, rather than fusion, look.

Soltee also offers a menswear collection, what’s does it offer a groom-to-be?
Our menswear range is a carefully edited collection of exquisitely decorated kurthas and understated jackets, using textured fabrics and draping on western silhouettes for sleek yet masculine pieces. Finishing touches include buttons with chains, embroidered trims and heavily detailed stonework to ensure every Soltee groom looks as magnificent as his bride.
The menswear collection brings together the best of contemporary cuts while still paying homage to traditional look that Asian grooms have been sporting on their wedding days for generations.

You’ve had a career of 21 years and counting as a fashion designer. What are your standout moments?
There are many, but one shining moment of success is opening the doors to a Soltee boutique in Birmingham. It's the culmination of years of hard work from the entire of the Soltee family, and I couldn't be prouder.

Which celebrity would you love to dress?
I adore Deepika Padukone so she would be my ideal woman to style.

What’s in store for Soltee in the future?
A solid international presence - even stronger than it is now. We're planning prêt-à-porter collections for both men and women and are also discussing a line made in leather. We also want to build a men's shoe collection. I have huge faith in my dedicated and talented team, so watch this space!