Style Spot brings in the very talented Stephen Lotha – the Creative Consultant of Dimapur based fashion house ‘The Connect Studio’.
Stephen, an emerging talent, shares with us his story of entering the world of fashion through his passion for styling. While there’s no doubt that Stephen is an extremely talented person, he has no formal education as a fashion designer or a stylist. But with inborn talent and love for fashion, he is a professional Stylist and progressing as a fashion designer. A graduate from Loyola College Chennai, his drive and passion led him to many opportunities when he first worked as a freelance stylist in the year 2007 at Delhi. He worked as a fashion stylist with Harpers Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, styled for Will India Fashion Week, Levis, Max, Jack and Jones, Numero Uno, and Official Stylist for Blackberry’s fashion shows.
Eastern Mirror: How did you decide that you eventually wanted to be a designer? Tell us your story?
Stephen Lotha: I am a work in progress, I hope to validate myself as a designer in the years to come, but I was into all things fashion since I was 11.
EM: Do you prefer designing for the male or female market?
SL: I love working on both male and female.
EM: What is the concept and beliefs behind the ‘The Connect Studio’ brand?
SL: The main idea behind starting ‘The Connect Studio’ was to create a competitive clothing line that had its roots in Nagaland, high street clothes that is ‘made in Nagaland’.
We believe that we need to start creating avenues of self sufficiency, support our homegrown talents and represent a dynamic and efficient brand and also break barriers and compete at a larger market.
EM: What do you find the most rewarding as a designer?
SL: A beautiful dress, a happy bride or just the fact that I do what I love is the reward.
EM: What is the common mistake Nagas make when it comes to style?
SL: Nagas are pretty on point when it comes to clothes. I like how the youngsters dress, they are individualistic and instinctive.
My only advice is don’t wear high heels when you are out for grocery shopping, just because it will be uncomfortable and it looks wrong.
EM: The fashion industry is fiercely competitive. What is the scenario of Nagaland’s fashion industry?
SL: It’s a growing industry. Right now is the time to cash in on the opportunities and if not create them. People outside Nagaland think that we have great fashion sense, all thanks to people like Atsu, Aien Jamir and many others.
There sure is something substantial in that opinion people have of us, now it’s up to us to figure it out. People should consider fashion as a serious profession, learn the art, master it and sell it.
How do you balance creativity with commerce?
I am not into the commerce bit and I don’t know if that makes me a great creative person or a dumb creative person. I design what I feel is beautiful and wearable, you have to be true to your art, if your art is genuine and good anyone will buy it. But understanding body shapes is a bonus.
What are the concepts that most interest you?
That keeps on changing, some days I am awakened by glamour and skin and some days by fun and colors but at the moment I am into ‘an awkward cute but strange girl’ it’s a sketch I have created. I am loving Peter Jensen as well and works of Loretta Lux.
What do you think fashion needs more of right now?
I think we need people who are in fashion for the love of fashion and are willing to work for the love of the art and not driven by the fantasy they have created about fashion. We need realness.
