When Helena Larsen Bajaj was asked to be a part of the Helsinki Virtual Fashion Week, she did not know that this was going to be her first brush with a veritable scifi-assisted fashion. A Parisbased designer, who takes her craft to the distant ports of the US, Dubai and India, besides doing projects next door in England, Helena was invited to be part of the show much before the pandemic struck and globally our lives turned turtle. However, post-Covid as well, the ‘Week’, known for its dedication to sustainable and green fashion decided to go digital.
What followed was an experiment of dimension and space for this designer who paints abstract on textiles, turning these real-life canvases into silhouettes of sharp trenches and flowy Abayas. She says, “There were 3D avatars created for each model and we were asked to create our ensembles in sizes that could fit them perfectly.” It was like shrinking life size designs into clothes fitted to a doll. Except here these ‘dolls’ were real life women with dynamic characters, great personalities and mystical ramp presence. And for them the designer had to conjure a line sheet, a line up and work with couturiers to create the story. “It was the most exciting show and taught me a new ‘dimension’ in design, literally,” she adds.
Helena was born to the much-acclaimed artist Sujata Bajaj and an academician father, Rene Jul Larsen, a Norwegian. They say that a child is like clay on a potter’s wheel. As parents, you can turn the wheel the way you want to and chances are your child will not just reflect your ethos but also adopt your craft and take it to a new level. Helena Larsen Bajaj is one such creation. A perfect blend of the artsy work of art that Sujata has immortalised her signature with. While from her father she gets the zen to look at aesthetics from an academic vantage. “I was brought up amidst art. While my friends were traveling to the countryside, I was accompanying my mother to art openings, museum shows and art workshops,” she informs.
A graduate in design from Parsons she calls herself a textile artist first. Then a visualiser, couturier, craft protagonist and a designer. Currently caught up with her parents in Paris with dynamic, ever changing Covid situation, she says that like many in her profession she too is looking at the virtual space. However, her treatment to online is going to be more experiential, bespoke almost and definitely artisanal.
Helena has shown in India at the Lakme Fashion Week. Evolved fashionistas recognize her vibrant, handpainted coats. And, as an ode to her Indian side which she admits is more than 50% and also she works a lot with Khadi. When the world turns to normalcy and she can get on a plane, Helena hopes to return to India and get more involved with the indigenous fashion movement that is so rooted, natural and honestly hand-crafted.