Indian designers Falguni and Shane Peacock have busted out of Bollywood straight through to Hollywood. Their champion? Britney Spears. In the video for her newest single “Hold It Against Me,” the pop queen raises up her fists like Muhammad Ali and cat-fights with her doppelganger while sheathed in ornate outfits by the married design duo. Britney One is clad in a short black minidress encrusted with intricate fuchsia and red beadwork, feathered shoulders and a slinky red train. Britney Two wears a similar version in navy blue.
The video has been a high career point for the Peacocks, who have dressed everyone from Katy Perry, Fergie and Brandy to Nicki Minaj in their sassy, detailed, futuristic frocks in just the past year. The couple, who married in 2001, debuted their designs outside India about eight seasons ago at Los Angeles Fashion Week, and have shown in London for six years.
At first, they mainly dressed Indian actresses. Then American stars caught on. “It’s so strange, to have one pop star after the other. Initially we designed for Fergie, for the World Cup, then lots of requests started coming in, especially in the last six months,” said an exhausted Falguni over the phone from Mumbai, back in their home base after the pair showed their sleek, leather-heavy, biker-chic fall collection during London Fashion Week. Falguni, small and quiet in person, and Shane, tall and dark-haired, once again looked zonked.
A flight from L.A. to Mumbai lasts about 18 hours. Planning a line of perfumes, bags and accessories, the two see themselves as a growing global brand. Falguni envisions stores around the world.
