This spectacular work of “Fashion as Art” (left) is the otherworldly creation of husband and wife designers John and Kinnari Panikar. The piece, made entirely of white woven organza, structured with tiny covered wires and layered, was just acquired by the Reading Public Museum, in Pennsylvania, for their permanent collection. The museum has one of the finest collections of textiles in the country and I can just imagine the collective enthusiasm of the curators there, as I personally was lucky enough to view the piece up close in an earlier exhibit, “Hot House” at the Cranbrook Museum of Art, in Michigan. It, quite simply, left me breathless.

Fashion has always been a way for individuals to show their own character, their uniqueness. Art, on the other hand, has been for ages a wonderfully exotic, yet almost untouchable and elitist medium. But to bring the two together is sheer brilliance. Combining the wearability of the garment - I am convinced that all women who see it up close wish for a wedding dress just like it, as I secretly did - with the ethereal quality of the material and the sheer grandness of the project, the Panikars created the ultimate artwork, both inspiring and to be lusted after.

If seeing such a garment awakens a desire for something this magical in your own wardrobe, fear not! The talented Panikar couple have a fantastic shop, Kinnu, right in the middle of ultra-fashionable Soho, in NYC. Located at 43 Spring Street, you can call 212 334 4775 for more info. Their stylishly designed store features clothes and textiles inspired from Indian tradition, though evolved into perfectly wearable art for the modern times.

I recently visited them there and asked Kinnari Panikar a couple of questions about “Lotus in the Clouds” and their love for fashion in general.

CHIC TODAY: What was your inspiration for “Lotus in the Clouds”?

KINNARI PANIKAR: “Lotus in the Clouds” was actually very special because it was designed to initially show in Cranbrook and that school for me is such an outstanding place, a place of knowledge. Thinking about Cranbrook and the “Hot House” exhibit, the piece was a tribute to my professor there - who was also director of the school - Mr. Gerhardt Knodel. Then I thought back to my own traditions. The Goddess of Knowledge in Hinduism is Saraswati and She sits on a lotus. So, keeping that thought in mind, the wires coming out of the fabric on the bodice of the piece are like knowledge coming from the Goddess.

CT: Why did you choose to become a designer?

KP: I feel that is something you are born with. You are born with a sense of beauty and my mother was an artist, so maybe I inherited the sensibility from her. Then John and I being together, both of us have a design background, it was so harmonious. I studied Textiles and he studied Industrial Design at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India. I then attended Cranbrook for my Masters and John went into Photography. But the design gene - it’s like your character or your family background - you are born with it. Money or education doesn’t really build that, it comes from within. With a lot of love, from childhood, I was given the chance to design, starting with my own saris, then relatives’ homes… I have always felt that there is a very fine line between design and art. I mean, some of the work done all over the world by craft people, that is definitely art!

CT: What is your design mantra?

KP: I feel like these days everyone is designing clothes for a size 0 or a size 2. I find that limiting for both the designer and the customer. Design, beautiful clothing, should be open to all ages and sizes. Each and every woman has a right to feel beautiful, that is our concept at Kinnu. To make every woman feel special. If a designer can achieve that, then that is success to me, not how many stores you have or the total receipts at the end of the day. A designer has only one responsibility: To make each and every person wearing their clothes feel wonderful.

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