Goan-origin, UK-based designer Raymond Fernandez scouts for talent in the tourist state

MUMBAI: Goan origin celebrated fashion designer Raymond Fernandez is on a mission in Goa. Visting the coastal state and the land of his birth, after several years (due to the Covid-19-induced lock down and restrictions on air travel), the UK and sometimes Mumbai-based, Goa-born fashion designer Raymond Fernandez recently shot with several models for his new Indo-Western pret and fusion ethnic Summer Collection 2023. Speaking to this portal during the shoot, he said he was concerned about the “forest fires” in Goa and the impact of Climate Change on Goa’s forest cover.

According to his spokesman, the collection consists of over 100 outfits like kurtis, one piece dresses, harem pants, party tops, designer skirts and short kurtis with fusion designs, embroidery, embellishments and cuts.

He auditioned nearly 150 models in Mumbai, Goa and Delhi and finally 3 were selected who successfully qualified for the designers requirements and made it to the prestigious shoot for the enviable collection.

Model and actress Tara Pallavi Singh who originally hails from Bikaner in Rajasthan and has done hundreds of fashion shows in Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkatta and Lucknow was one among the lucky ones. She is an established model in North India and has also done many events abroad as well. This is not the first time she is part of Fernandez’s team. In the year 2014 too, she had modeled for the fashion label in Mumbai and walked the ramp.

The theme and concept for this year’s collection is “Trendy fashion for Indian women of every size and shape”, he said.

Says Raymond Fernandez, “For most people fashion and designer wear is either very inconvenient or uncomfortable or exorbitantly expensive. But I like to keep things simple and affordable.”

For me, fashion is affordable, wearable and comfortable and yet fashionable, Fernandez stated via a online conference.

Fernandez was born in Bardez taluka in North Goa about 12 kms from the state capital Panaji, but his family migrated to Canada about 38 years ago. He grew up in Canada and then his father shifted to the UK where he completed his university education and did an advanced diploma in fabrics, garments and fashion designing.