| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monthly Archives: September 2010
Fashionably Plastic
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle….words that are just repeated and happily forgotten in our daily chores. But one fine day we actually sit down to follow this three word instruction manual the world would be a much cleaner and breathable and all the hulla hoo and go green campaigns and ads would suffer losses. Now here is Cristen Andrews from Austin, Texas who is busy crocheting the plastic bags into fashionable durable items.
While Cristen thinks plastic bags should ultimately be eradicated, she crochets with them because it’s a good method of recycling these bags that would otherwise end up in the streets, landfills, or the bellies of animals. She has been making things like backpacks, shopping bags, hats, floor mats, water bottle holders, and drink koosies.
Last year Christen embarked upon a year-long trip around the world. While the trip wasn’t about crochet teaching, she did quite a bit of it during her travels – teaching in various impromptu workshops to people in places like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Iceland, and Australia. Though she wasn’t in any of these countries long enough to do this on a larger scale, but this definitely generated a lot of interest in her idea as Cristen has always envisioned of turning her concept into a self sustaining project – one that has a direct impact on improving the lives of underprivileged women and their families.
During a previous trip to India, she had noticed a tremendous plastic waste problem. So decided to teach them to perform basic crochet stitches and create simple bag designs that would help them to become skilled artisans capable of transforming waste materials into fashionable products. Then Hostelling International granted her a small travel scholarship this year, a crowd-sourced funding site for artistic endeavors called Kickstarter, gave her the opportunity to return to India sooner than she had thought. And Miguel, her partner, and Christen spent this summer traveling through Mumbai, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi to try to kick this plan into action.
During their travels, they connected with various NGOs, community groups, and individuals dedicated to similar goals. And managed to teach 13 formal workshops in addition to several more informal ones – showing about 600-700 people the basics of plastic bag crochet.
This project as Christen likes to call it is very much in its baby stages, but currently they are in the process of developing a product line (Gamesh Bags), creating a web site (GameshBags.com), and exploring marketing opportunities. One can also keep updated with her work and cause at her blog BagsBeGone.com.
Rina Dhaka for Couture Week
Celebrated fashion designer Rina Dhaka presents her latest collection at the Couture Week on the 9th of October 2010 at 8:00 pm. The collection is all about reinventing luxury for a magnificent simplicity.
This range shows intense perforations, interweaving, tangles and fringes. The collection boasts of textures, which stimulate visual physical contact. She has interestingly merged the 90’s look in umbrella lines, more or less keeping the shapes, where most of the silhouettes are bias or slimline. The colour palette of her collection comprises of deceptive monochromes, hybrid naturals and smoky tones separated by blues and black with rich metallic hues and a hint of red.
This collection also features romantic floral motifs which are reinvented into a cobweb avatar with the use of pearls and sea pearls. Bulging beads and Chinese sea pearls decorate the web. Details like angle lace makers, brocade laces, unmatchable hand embroidery with a sensuous mix of colour and sequences enhance her range.
Her ensembles portrays a feeling of Royalty, richness, sophistication, a fashion flirting between the romantic florals and the disobedient web fringes and tangles, exquisite and rare embroidery all interweaved into a new cobweb.
Manju Agarwal
Atithi Gupta
Ritu Kumar Accessories
Ritu Kumar Launches its Accessories line for A/W 2010, with titles like Ghungroo, Jamdani, Laser Engraved, and Madhubani has bags, clutches and wallets in various styles and colours. The collection displays a versatile range, covering a variety of looks from casual chic to formal cocktail wear, much to the delight of a refined fashion aficionado.
The bags from the first line have been embellished with Ghungroos and chains on a black weave material, lending it an ethnic yet stylish look and feel. Deriving inspiration from the A/W cocktail collection, this series of bags would be the perfect complement to elegant evening wear.
Accessories from the Jamdani and Laser Engraved collections also draw stimulation from the designs of AW’10 line. Jamdani involves the use of striking patterns and leather engravings similar to the Bangladesh Border line. Laser Engraved is a versatile offering designed for women from all age groups. A simple yet elegant accessory, this would qualify as a "must have" for any woman’s wardrobe.
The Madhubani collection comprising of classic Madhubani prints is ideal for young career women. Attractive and practical, the Madhubani range comes in two very fashionable hues. For evening wear, there is an embroidered clutch – a true party accessory in Peacock Blue and Peach Pink. Crafted to reflect the party mood, it is every fashionista’s delight.
Silhouettes of Style
The quintessential designer Nakul Sen, with poignant presence in Indian fashion industry showcased his latest collection at his art and fashion meet, O Palacio, Hauz Rani, New Delhi.The collection is titled ‘Silhouettes of style’ and pays homage to the simplicity of form, with an emphasis on embellishments and drama through structured, flowing silhouettes. A keen observer with a ruthless eye for detail, Nakul centers on forms and weaves epic stories around them through, shapes and mediums, while his color palette spells chic, classic and understated.
Nakul’s mastery and versatility are effortlessly embroidered on Cocktail gowns and wraps, with a rich focus on luxurious fabrics like silk, chiffon and wool. The collection promises to pamper each and every sense.
India Princess 2011
The launch of “Indian Princess 2010 – Fashion for a Change” was enthralled by two spectacular shows by Archana Kochchar and Wendell Rodricks presented in association with some exquisite creations from Nakshatra, India’s iconic diamond jewellery brand, as Gitanjali Associates with “Fashion for a Change”India Princess 2011- Fashion for a Change has grown out of the Western India Princess organized by Atharva Group of Institutes and has become an all India show covering 14 cities across all fur zones of the country. This year the cause that it is supporting is to felicitate war widows and provide them with financial assistance.
The Wendell Rodricks show was a stunning presentation by the acclaimed designer, as the models walked the ramp in flowing gowns that evoked all the trade mark flair he is associated with and had a distinct contemporary Western feel. The colours were predominantly whites, greens and gold, giving each of the models a truly royal, princess styled look. Noted actress Yuvika Chaudhary was the showstopper.
Archana Kochhar show represented the designer’s signature style, with elaborately crafted and embellished evening gowns, ornate lehengas and modern suits. Fabrics like organza, tulle and velvet were dominant in a medley of soft pastel palettes, ranging from powder pink, dusty lilac, onion, cream and champagne. The show, entitled ‘Petal, pearl and post card’ was a celebration of all things pretty, romantic and feminine, is born out of fictional saga of a girl who selflessly dedicates her life for a stranger and how her love story takes a tragic turn and still settles at a happy ending. Soha Ali Khan added a touch of glamour as the showstopper.
Extending support to the event, both designers stressed their commitment to larger social causes. “Fashion is not just about glamour and style, about fun and entertainment, and we are happy to work with a show that is dedicated to a cause.”
Sulabh Kalra
Friendly, foodie and fun-loving, Sulabh Kalra is a big hearted lad from Delhi. Lionized by Ibibo, he has a kitty of accolades to boast about and the latest in the series is the recently concluded Van Heusen India Men’s Week..
So we caught up with Sulabh Kalra, reminiscing his failure at the auditions of VHIMW last year and revealing his obsession for food and fitness.
Tell us briefly about your early life, family and academics?
I was born and brought up in Delhi and went to Summerfields School. I was a very spoiled and pampered child, which I am still somewhere. I pursued Animations after my school. And talking about my family, then we are positive thinkers, fun loving people who love to devour food.
How you bumped into your first assignment?
I entered modeling through Ibibo. It changed my life. People here talk about good photographers, agencies, choreographers and blah blah to make your mark in the industry but Ibibo gave me a full fledged platform and I am here right in front of you.
Which shows ( designers) and commercials have you graced with your presence?
I have done WIFW, Couture Fashion Week and many other shows for brands like Puma, Reebok, L’Oreal and NIFT.
What do you think of bollywood as a career option?
Ummmm…It’s a great option provided you get opportunity with a good production house.
When not modeling what are you most likely to be found doing?
I love food…..so whenever I get time, I try out something new. Besides, I love hanging out with my friends and watching movies.
Your take on modeling industry in India and abroad?
In India Modeling Industry is booming with a good pace. Designers are really working good and creating applaudable stuff. We have achieved well over the time. Professionalism and dedication towards work are the traits we people are imbibing fast.
What is fashion for you?
Fashion is a statement for me. It’s all about your persona enhancing your personality and vice versa.
Your icon/ role model in life?
Everybody has its individuality and I try to learn the positives of the people whom I meet. Yet, I admire Sahil Shroff and Ashton Kutcher most.
Any interesting experience in your career span?
Last year when I auditioned for Men’s Week, I was very nervous as I had never ever walked the ramps before. I landed on the ramp diffidently and got out in the 1st round. It was a lowdown moment for me and I was dilemmatic over continuing modeling. But, gradually I didn’t lose hopes and the day came when I got selected for WIFW.
QUICK SNIPPET
FAVORITE FOOD: Chinese, Japanese and Italian.
FAVORITE PERFUME: Bvlgari, Hugo Boss
FAVORITE APPAREL BRAND: Puma , Zara
FAVORITE DESIGNER: Rohit Gandhi, Rohit Bal and Varun Bahl
FAVORITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Italy
THING YOU HATE AND LOVE MOST: I love food and clothes and hate bitching and loneliness.
THING YOU ARE ADDICTED TO: Fitness
YOU ARE SACRED OF: People with negative energy.
MUSIC YOU LOVE TO LISTEN TO: Bollywood
Manju Agarwal
