London Dreams

To typecast Keith as a fashion designer would be incorrect. He has designed theatre spaces, Commonwealth ceremonies 2009 and musical choirs. He is on his third visit to Mumbai as part of a series of curated events and installations for the India Design Forum.

He says, “I’ve been coming to India for many years now — but recently there has been a change in people and their outlook. I think it’s a genuinely exciting place, with energy. For example Maithili Ahluwalia from Bungalow 8 created this fantastic opportunity for me, with energy and verve that doesn’t happen in then UK anymore. This collaboration is the reason I’m back.”

So did Keith chose printed saris? He answers, “I wanted to apply my design knowledge to a traditional garment, and not just decorate it. Technology is amazing, and my design studio is developing ways of developing personalised product (which are great for Indian customers) with a high-end finish. I’m obsessed with technology — it’s only now that you can print such big surfaces, such a sari — through to rapid prototyping, and laser scanning.” For him design is a process between manufacture, via structure and communication. It’s also colour shape and texture. With Indians, it’s almost like a seventh sense.

Keith draws huge inspiration from Bollywood, one of his latest projects is called Wah! Wah! Girls, he says, “Back in 1991, I staged the first Bollywood musical in the UK. I did it with my partner at that time, Ali Zaidi, it’s been much replicated, so it was strange going back to something like that. Wah Wah girls was set in London during the Olympics, and I created the sets and costumes. I made life-sized digital prints of typical suburban houses, and hundreds of costumes, wigs and headpieces. It was directed by Emma Rice, from knee high theatre, in Cornwall.”

From designing clothes to theatre to designing ceremonies, in his opinion what forms the basis of good design? He says, “Well, obviously the outcomes are so different, and the media used. But the common thing is that they move people or engage people. A lot of the bigger design stuff is creating big strategies — so the impact is harder — but I did design a young people strategy and a digital strategy for the games, and young people did get involved.”