London-based designers Hardeep and Mandeep Kaur are twin sisters who share not only a birthday and an Indian heritage, but also similar interests, such as travel, art, culture, and all things beautiful. They decided to launch their label Nom De Mode after a special trip to India where they came across old family albums filled with remarkably dressed women—including a few maharani relatives. With a background in literature, Hardeep weaves together the collections’ inspirations while Mandeep, with a background in law, has an eye for visualizing silhouettes, cuts, and proportions. The siblings talk to Style.com/Arabia about their vision for creating luxury outerwear pieces and the art of living well.
ON PANACHE, STYLE, AND WIT
There are three words that we always fall back to—panache, style, and wit. This is the world of Nom De Mode, which extends not only to how one dresses, but also all other elements of one’s lifestyle. Our dedication to luxury outerwear revolves around our quality, making an effort with daywear, and adding something special to each piece. The idea is to translate our view of the world, and weave together our Indian influence with our English upbringing.
ON SWITCHING FROM LAW AND LITERATURE TO FASHION DESIGN
Our desire to work together has always existed. Growing up with frequent visits to India, we were immersed in the world of textiles and tailoring, and above all, the very tangible transformative power of dressing. Law and literature allowed us to build knowledge away from the creative world. We built a broader view of fashion and style and learned how to design for women who live busy and varied lives.
ON CULTURES PLAYING A ROLE
Our ancestry and heritage lies in India—its aesthetic and rich culture resonates with us both. We travel there often for inspiration; the history, architecture, abundance of life, and colors inspire the mind and eye. The Nom De Mode style comes into play when these influences are combined with our thoroughly European eye. Born and raised in London, we’ve always been surrounded by stunning fabrics and that is one of the key signatures in our collections, be it brocade, lace, organza, or silk.
ON THE IMPACT OF OUTERWEAR
Outerwear finishes a look; it is the last piece you put on and the first thing you will notice on a person. The first time you meet someone, you should make an impact—outerwear is about using the visual part of your identity to say something without words. It is wonderful to have that special dress for that ideal occasion, but we believe strongly in pieces that will make you feel just as polished with minimal effort. On the days you feel a little less confident in that dress, a beautiful gilet or cape will never let you down.
