A one of a kind initiative, the National Museum formally inaugurated an exclusive exhibition titled ‘AtootDor’- Unbroken Thread, in collaboration with India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore. The exhibit highlights the ongoing dialogue between museum artifacts, living traditions and popular culture, by showcasing a range of Banarasi saris from private & designer collections with a highlight being a fashionable display by ace designer Ritu Kumar.

While tracing their origins, repertoire and contemporary expressions, the showcase included traditional pink brocade sari, choli with gold churidars and  lehanga –choli set with brocade work by ‘Banarasi Weaves’ leaving the enthusiasts spellbound.

Creating the Banarasi magic at this special exhibition for the National museum, Mrs. Ritu Kumar said, “The weaves of Banaras are the only surviving textiles in the world, where the skills of the master weavers create handlooms which are a true statement of the bespoke garment. These weaves and textiles are the most haute couture of all. Banaras weaves are almost like a monument worth preserving, like no other in the world. I am happy to support and be a part of the revivalist projects centered round the traditional crafts and textiles of India.”

he event curated by Abeer Gupta, Suchitra Balasubramanyam and Dr. Anamika Pathak, has over 100 objects on display under 6 sections including artifacts from the private collections.

Varun Bahl will set the mood with his contemporary touches to open the five day fashion extravaganza for the Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2016 to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, in the capital.

Delhi-based Varun Bahl’s is known for the generous use of exotic motifs and his luxurious hybrid styles, with his chic aesthetic. Believing in the strength of flower power, his collection is a composite story of long jackets, dresses in jacquards with ruffles and gathers that accentuate the body. It is lined with intricate textures, foliage and floral patchwork that tell a story of unadulterated glamour.

Speaking about his collection, Varun Bahl said, “I’m extremely excited to come back to Amazon India Fashion Week after so many years and delighted to be opening the fashion week at the new venue. Our new collection is for the woman of today expressed through elegance, balance and proportion. Contemporary embroideries and textures in a range of warm colors inspired from flora and fauna remain our much loved thought to create this collection.”

Milan fashion Week ready to wear day2 had biggest of big names from Emilio Pucci, Moschino, Prada, Fendi, Costume National, Max Mara, Anterprima… Miuccia Prada calls “the history of women, the dramas and happiness of women – when they are beautiful, and when they are horrible” through her show. She showcased corsets layered, over the top of tweedy, countrywoman jackets with hunter-style patch pockets along with velvet brocades and functional thick woollen socks and sailor caps.

Emilio Pucci had to the likes of oversize sweaters with a mountain range print , oversize silk printed chemise dresses , graphic jumpsuits . Jeremy Scott for Moschino show was made up of dramatically wrapped evening gowns, tops, black leather biker jackets and skirts, distressed denim, and Eighties pouf dresses.

Karl Lagerfeld had model Kendall Jenner showing a stunning selection of ensembles. Ruffle and faux fur seems to be the theme as it was seen throughout the presentation, from  high neck orange blouse with a V-shaped ruffle on the front, ruffled neckline with faux fur bags, coats and stoles in bright colours.

Max Mara showed some stunning overcoats one being gold long overcoat worn over a camel-coloured coat then there was an eye-catching orange coat.Stripes along with green and yellow colours were the mainstay of the collection.

Anterprima show was live in contemporary nostalgia, with romance and drama in elegant folds of roses. In the colouer palette of viola, giallo, khaki, whites and greys in fine silks and cashmere it rediscovered classic silhouettes, fitted, graphic, long, short and mid-calf, with shoes that trick your senses.

Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) announced the names of three young designers, who will showcase their collections for the first time, in a specially curated menswear show.

Antar-Agni by Ujjawal Dubey, Divyam Mehta and Rohit Kamra will present their designs on the fourth day (19th March) of the AIFW AW16 . Antar Agni’s Autumn-Winter collection titled “The Red in Us”, explores the varied emotions that red exudes. Red is extreme, a stimulator, heavy, intense and a stirrer. The collection aims at the controlled use of oxidised red as an extreme element, paired with fabrics with character, acting as a vent for the persistent human neutral state.

“Into the Woods”, a collection by Divyam Mehta, draws inspiration from trees and textures bringing out a feeling of freedom, intensity and blissfulness, harmoniously blending into laboriously executed Shibori patterns.

Interestingly, Rohit Kamra’s collection will redefine the royal look by modernizing it through sharply tailored bandhgalas and breeches. “Made in Jaypore” will see a huge Jaypore influence seeping into the ensembles.

Wednesday, the first day of Milan fashion week women’s ready to wear had Dundas taking inspiration from early 20th-century bohemianism for Roberta Cavalli show, which had gypsies in deep purple velvet, jewel-toned jacquard, tiger-printed fur, fringed silk. They wore long, skinny neck scarves and snakeskin platform boots.

Gucci women’s wear has rhizomatic traces where each dress portrays very different sign systems and knots them, following multiform and nonhierarchical directions.T he collection proceeds by accumulation of signs which are decontextualized, connected and reactivated beyond shared conventions.It was a multi layered collection with eighties influence which had fabulous brocade coat, long-haired fur cuffs , bubblegum-pink satin dress embroidered with green three-headed snake, big-shouldered trench and a black leather quilted jacket & skirt combo.

No. 21 was a mix of thirties influences with sportswear in the form of sheer slip dresses, embroidered in dense silver and gold flora, paired with knits and fur coats in asymmetrical color blocks.
A world filtered by dreams, fantasies and aspirations,” was how show notes contextualized Alberta Ferretti’s fall collection which had satin and lace slips, hefty furs and tweeds and belted velvet pajama.