As the creative director of his eponymous menswear label and his late mother’s label, Simar Dugal – Arjan skillfully balances the rich heritage of the legacy brand with an edgy appeal.
In this exclusive interview, he takes us through his journey, the unique challenges of leading two distinct brands, and his relentless pursuit of creating designs that blend modern sensibilities with timeless traditions.
FL: Carrying forward a legacy brand like Simar Dugal must come with a sense of responsibility. How do you navigate this while pushing boundaries and innovating your designs?
AD: Whenever you take over a fashion brand as a creative director, particularly one like Simar Dugal, whose roots are ingrained in Indian heritage and culture, you have a profound sense of responsibility. Understanding and staying true to who you are while sticking to the brand’s ethos and what you want the brand to stand for, allows an environment for a beautiful amalgamation of the two. My fresh perspective on womenswear and my experience in menswear allow me to experiment more freely.
FL: What inspired you to start your own menswear label?
AD: My inspiration to start my menswear brand was never actually really ‘holier than thou’; it arose out of necessity when I returned from college. It felt like the only right thing to do, so I worked three jobs and saved enough to produce my first collection. I aimed to create an accessible, aspirational designer label for men, not in terms of luxury but affordability and wearability, with unique knick-knacks and innovations like printed linings, built-in pocket squares, and under-the-cuff and under-the-collar prints.
FL: How do you balance two distinct brands with different sensibilities?
AD: It is a challenging task; you’re dealing with two entirely different demographics, genders, notions, and concepts, and the designing for each happens separately. You have to sort of get into this sphere one, pull entirely out of the sphere one, and then get into the sphere of the second to truly understand what it is that you stand for and want to project into the future going forward. That’s kind of how I switch between two design sensibilities, I do it in phases and in breaks.
FL: What are some key considerations you take into account when designing for men?
AD: Regarding key considerations for men, the choice of fabric is definitely one. Fit is number two. How the cut around the shoulders needs to sit, where the sleeve is rounder and fuller, allowing that comfort and precision in its fit is very important. Along with that, a nice choice of lining. What is it that men do not want to spend time thinking about? They want to reach into the wardrobe and have something safe they can always wear and look brilliant in. So fabrics, fit, feel, fall, and comfort.
Arjan Dugal, Designer
My fresh perspective on womenswear and my experience in menswear allow me to experiment more freely.
FL: Could you share a memorable moment or achievement in your journey as a designer so far?
AD: You know, I’ve been very fortunate in this business, and I’ve had the most epic mentor in my mom. Memorable moments have come, and I’ve been fortunate to have luck on my side, although we’ve worked tremendously hard for it. The opening of the Simar Dugal store in DLF Emporio was absolutely epic, as was the launch of the Arjan Dugal store at the same location. The first time we were featured in an article that named us one of the top three menswear designers in India among independent houses is something I’ll never forget. I’m thankful to God; these are some of the most memorable moments that I’ve ever had or felt overjoyed by.
FL: What does the future hold for your menswear label? Are any new projects or collaborations on the horizon?
AD: As for menswear, we can’t comment on what it’s going to be like, but stay tuned because what we’re creating is going to make the next year an exciting ride. Stay close, and hopefully, we’ll be able to surprise everyone!