Komol Sood in words

As a label and as an individual, Komol Sood epitomises youthful elegance, chic glamour and sophistication. At the tender age of 19, she was crowned the 2nd runners-up in Femina Miss India after which her modelling career really took off and she became an anchor at a show for Zee TV. 

However, modelling was not what Komol Sood wanted to do with her life. Sitting down for a chat with the now famous designer, she explained many of her choices and why she does what she does in her own inimitable style. 

“I was never really an ambitious model,” she said explaining how as a judge for Miss Diva she makes it a point to tell the competitors how important it is to understand everything that entails a modelling career. 

“Unless you are dedicated thoroughly, you are better off doing something else and reserving the spot for those who really want to do this,” she said. While modelling could not satiate her ambitions, Komol Sood turned her attention to designing and this is where she truly found herself. 

Aware of her true calling, Komol Sood graduated with an arts degree from Sophia College in Ajmer, India. Following that, she found herself in Jenson and Nicholson. Her thirst for knowledge in her discipline was not quenched yet and Komol soon found her enrolled in the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kolkata. 

Wanting to enhance her skills and knowledge even further, she travelled and attended various courses, as designing turned into her passion. 

“My husband and my family were all into designing men's wear. My marriage with Rahul really inspired me to pursue designing further,” she explained.  Under the tutelage of Burlingtons of Kolkata, she further cultivated her skills culminating in the formation of her very own brand, Kyra - a hip fashion clothing line in 1998. 

In 2005, Komol Sood launched her luxury line with the ‘Komol Sood’ label. The rest, as they say, is history. 

“I launched Kyra after noticing that there was a huge gap between supply and demand of international standard hip clothes. I could not even shop for myself so I started sourcing the kind of clothes I wanted and soon had started my own line of casual, hip clothes,” she said. 

Explaining her fashion sense, Komol Sood described it as blending the youth with sophistication. “Your outlook to life dictates your age,” she said, which in turn dictates what we choose to wear. “I always want something bold and glamorous. Every look I choose is thus bold and glamorous whilst retaining an Eastern and conservative blend.”

Speaking of her Komol Sood line, she explained how the collection was formed from the spirit of an eastern woman, with the eastern touch being the essence of her designs. But what inspires Komol Sood as a designer? 

“I love dressing celebrities and the red carpet is my inspiration,” she gushes. “At times I am accused of being too glamorous but I love my sequins and my stones,” she said. She mentions Aditi Hydari and Madhur Bhandarkar as celebrities she likes dressing up the most. “This inspiration of mine translates to my work and I want any woman wearing my clothes to actually feel like a celebrity,” she said. 

Komol Sood ended the conversation by offering some tips to aspiring designers everywhere. 

“A good segment that potential designers can target is evening wear. There is a lot of space to be commercially involved there,” she said. 

Komol Sood is all about leaving a lasting impression, be that in person or through her designs. Lighting up the ramp in the Pond's Lustrous Runway, Komol Sood did what she promised; delivering a stupendous blend of glamour and sophistication. 

By Osama Rahman
Photo Courtesy: Komol Sood