Mandali Mendrilla, an internationally distinguished Croatian
fashion designer based in USA, is planning a neo-vedic style
clothing line in her atelier collection in collaboration with
renowned Vaishnava theologian Dr. Kenneth Valpey and blessings
of acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed.
Before formally launching the line, she plans to do extensive
research into Vedic ceremonies, ancient temple reliefs and art
inspired by Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Bharhut and
Sanchi reliefs, Harappan culture (around 3300 BCE), Mauryan
dynasty (322 to 185 BCE), Vratyas, Banabhatta's (7th century)
Harshacharita, etc., to come up with exquisite designs fused
with influences of Mediterranean Croatian regional dressmaking
heritage and the well-known Italian sense of style.
Mandali is currently researching into the rectangular jackets
and short pleated dhotis worn by Mauryan warriors; designs based
on Kusa grass skirts worn by ladies during Vedic ceremonies;
turbans for both sexes based on Harappan culture; black and
pointed Vratya shoe styles; etc.
The 32 years old charming Mandali says: "The energy, wisdom and
dignity of Vedic India has always intrigued me and its fabulous
sense of style is a classic that survived the ages in traces.
Inspired by a well known traditional Vedic sculptor/painter
Drdha Monge, I leaped on a quest to explore and rediscover
ancient Indian dressing codes and artistic rules governing
traditional Indian dress over the ages as well as ways to blend
those with the ways of the modern world.
Mr. Rajan Zed's constant attempts to reach across lines of
difference through prayer provides great inspiration to me in
fusion clothing, Mandali points out. She has been exploring
Vedic tradition and Bhakti Yoga under the mentorship of Dr.
Valpey, which resulted in consulting him for her next line.
Internationally renowned stylist, designer and artist Mandali
Mendrilla finds inspiration in the living installation called
world and its abundance of moods, characteristics, relationships
and actions of time. She thinks humans can use clothes to help
communicate, explore, enhance and discover their inner selves
rather than consider dressing as an external act of duty. She
has already exhibited her work in Italy, Croatia, USA, and India
and during this year, she plans to take her shows to Japan and
United Kingdom, besides repeating Croatia, Italy, and India.
Vaishnava theologian and scholar of Indian cultural and
religious traditions, Dr. Valpey is a Fellow at prestigious
Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies in United Kingdom.
Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, has
recited groundbreaking first Hindu opening prayer in United
States Senate in Washington DC. He was recently bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award. He is one of the panelists for
On Faith, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion
produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com. Inspired by
his prayer in US Senate, Mendrilla dedicated a line of designer
shirts from her latest atelier collection to him.