She says less is more. A designer with the stark confidence and panache to say this has to be someone with a knack for creativity flowing mellifluously in her veins and inveterate knowledge of fashion. Her epiphany gives you the aura of a designer who is confident, bold and experimental and who knows it all. She is Lina Tipnis whose label Linarika is synonymous with diffusion clothing and prêt and who has carved a niche in the fashion arena with her creations which are essentially minimalist and reflect timeless style and wearability. Following her inborn desire to create garments, Lina began her career by designing in 1987 for her retail outlet at the Oberoi, Mumbai and today has her label Linarika is sold in over 30 stores in India as well as the UK, Southeast Africa and the Middle East. “I thrive on challenges. I just can't do the mundane. If I don't keep on innovating every time, I feel stagnated. My brain functions like a popcorn machine, popping up something new constantly,” says the Lina, who is in town with her all new collection for rudraksh.

So what's special for Pune? “There are three different lines. The first one is a collection of voiles where I have worked mainly with interesting surface textures. The mushroom like emboss and reptile textures represent silicon implant or botox. This collection truly represents the woman of today who is very free flowing yet controlled. The second line is the cartoon couture collection with all digital prints. It reflects the modern India where with macbook air, the i-phone, the poodle etc. The third collection is inspired by the Maharaja of Patyala, Maharaja Bhupendra Singh and his jewels. This collection has blacks and ivory dominating on silk textures studded with Swarovski crystals,”

she adds.

But being an avant-garde designer who is always on the look out for something new, she created a fashion conscious' frog, during Lakme Fashion Week 2008 and will be showcasing the animation film for the Pune crowd. “The protagonist is called McKay, and he is exactly what my collection is all about. McKay lives beyond his means, loves to look good, socialise and be the centre of attention always. He has imperfect beauty and sparkling flamboyance!”

So what is she expecting from the Pune crowd? “Pune woman is very fashion conscious. She is exactly what a modern woman is like- independent and controlled. Rasika has done a pioneering effort in creating Rudraksh. I met someone in Paris the other day and even she knew about this store. The last two years has seen a radical change in the Pune fashion scene which was quite unexpected. There's a matured crowd here with an evolved sensibility. Considering it's a spring summer collection, ivory is dominating. The cartoon collection is vibrant and is a must have for every woman who is edgy, young and wants to be noticed in a mad crowd,” she ends.