Today we have a special treat from bespoke designer CTC West from Woodbridge, Ontario. Started in 2007, they have taken off to be one of the most fashionable designers for wedding saris and lenghas.
As a special, they are also offering a 15% discount when brides buy both their wedding and reception outfit. At the bottom are the details.
First, drool at this lovely style video they created to showcase one of the most fabulous wedding lenghas ever. Plus it’s a wedding gown with sleeves!
~~~ canoe love. from Prashanna Jayaseelan on Vimeo.
Here’s our interview with CTC West:
BFIW – How did CTC West begin?
CTC West – Shalini Sawhney got married in 2003. She designed her wedding outfit from Canada, along with the help of Raksha Sawhney (her mom) and their patient family in Delhi.
Shortly after her marriage, Shalini Saini’s two newly acquired sister-in-laws were engaged, and enlisted Shalini and Raksha to help them design their wedding outfits. Over the next four years, the word started to spread, one bride at a time.
In early 2007, Gaurav Sawhney, Shalini’s brother, was banging his head against a cubicle wall. It was time for him to make a move and work on a project that he was inspired by. It was at this time that CTC West was formally developed. Gaurav cut off his corporate tie and stepped in to head the project, while Shalini took a step back to start planning for her family.
The CTC West strategy was to take baby steps, ensuring that they did not miss any fine details, while executing flawless pieces with every one of their clients.
2011 and it couldn’t be better. CTC West has broken barriers with their exceptional customer service, creative take on wedding outfits, and by introducing educational workshops to the industry.
The BFIW – What inspires you to create outfits?
CTC West – When two people decide to take the next step and join together as one, it’s not just about the wedding day, it’s about the journey the two are about to embark upon. This journey is informed by cultural values, passed down from generations, marinated in tradition.
Our inspiration arises from marrying tradition with contemporary simplicity, the East meeting the West. We believe it is a cherished moment for the bride to embrace matrimony as a wife, with her eyes perhaps on becoming a mother and some day a grandparent.
CTC West’s goal is to embody these ideologies in every piece created, so that when our clients look back on their wedding outfits decades from now, they still relate.
The BFIW – How many are working on your team of designers/creators?
CTC West – We have a core team of five creators.
All of CTC West’s bridal outfits are handmade using strictly pure fabrics. Pure silks, georgettes, chiffons, velvets and satins. A range of embroidery from dabka to gota to crystals to pearls and the list goes on.
One exception to the pure fabric rule is net. A synthetic fabric that is popular once again. Light weight and very breathable, net allows us room to play with the gown and gaghra shapes (extremely wide a-lines).
Ooo, look at this wedding lengha in ocean colors. Made in net and silk.
The BFIW – What are this year’s fall colors for brides?
CTC West – Cream and gold are very in right now. We are seeing a trend towards soft pastels with crystal and gold gota embellishments – a big departure from the loud colour palettes that we are accustomed to.
The BFIW – Besides the ubiquitous red as a bridal color, what other color is most popular for brides?
CTC West – When it comes to colors, there is a beautiful diversity within South Asian traditions.
A Punjabi bride will traditionally wear a red lehenga with gold embellishments, while a Gujarati bride might wear a white-based outfit with red and gold accents, and our Pakistani clients are often looking for a pure white saree.
With regards to the traditional red bridal outfits, we are noticing a trend towards stretching the word “red” or the amount of “red” in a bridal lehenga. For example, a client might have a deep eggplant-purple lehenga, with fuchsia-pink accenting elements and chunni. This concept incorporates a color in the “red-family”, while standing out as a truly unique piece in comparison to the sea of reds that we are generally expecting.
Picking a bridal outfit is a daunting task for brides. The endless array of colors and styles to choose from are dizzying. This inspired us to create the Custom Couture experience. With the combination of the client’s inspiration and our expertise, every piece in the CTC West boutique can be customized, embellished and mixed and matched, to achieve a simplistic or intricate design.
The BFIW – You attended the Kismet wedding show, what was the favorite outfit you showcased?
CTC West – We had a lot of fun at this year’s Kismet wedding show. We were able to showcase some of our new gowns, which were a big hit. We were also sure to give some fun options to the traditional red and gold lehenga that many of the attendees were looking for.
Here are three of our favorites.
The BFIW – What have you noticed from this season’s trends in wedding fashion?
CTC West – The traditional three-piece lehenga, although still the norm, is being side-stepped by the one-piece gown. This speaks directly to the marriage of Eastern and Western traditions.
Designers in the East are having a blast playing with light, flowing net gowns, with lots of layers and massive a-line shapes. Their shape and movement allow for a grand entrance as the Bride walks into her reception.
Lehengas have taken on some new attributes this season as well. Long jackets have made a strong statement this year. Shapes are also moving towards larger than life a-lines (a traditional style called the gaghra).
The North American marketplace is also catching up on color blocking which became popular in India a few years ago. Also called 3D in the East, this style involves mixing and matching three bold colours (e.g. blouse in green, lehenga in blue, dupatta in fuchsia).
An example of color blocking
Contact CTC West!
Phone: +1-416-618-4400
Email: info at ctcwest.ca
Website: www.ctcwest.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.ca/ctcwest.ca
Twitter: @ctcwest
where and how can i purchase this item??
can i purchase it in online??
@Last time – You can go to the CTC West website and contact them for trials and purchasing.
Hii i want to shop for my wedding and i tried the number which is there on the website but that number is not working.
I am from Chandigarh is there any showroom here in Chandigarh.
Please help me its urgent