January 2011 - Page 5 of 16

Ensemble, the multi-designer store brought in a refreshing initiative to support and promote sustainable, eco-friendly fashion. Ensemble showcased and retailed an exclusive capsule collection by 10 of the country’s most prominent designers at their flagship store at Lion Gate, Mumbai. The proceeds from the sales of these collections went to “Women Weave,” a non-profit organization headed by Ms. Sally Holkar, which supports women weavers in rural India & sustains organic handloom fabric.

Among the designers whose creations were up for sale at the event were 11.11 by Cell Dsign, Anupamaa Dayal, Digvijay singh for BhuSatva, James Ferreira, Lecoanet Hemant, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Pero by Aneeth Arora, Rahul Mishra, Small Shop by Jason Anshu & Wendell Rodricks. From Wendell Rodrick’s revival of the Kunbi sari to James Ferreira’s unique amalgamation of papier-mâché and khadi, all the garments were one-off pieces that have inimitable individuality and have been created using ethical techniques with natural fibres and organic dyes.

Speaking on this initiative, Tina Tahiliani Parikh, Executive Director, Ensemble said, “Ensemble’s philosophy is to create a gradual value shift towards sustainable fashion that is ethically and ecologically balanced. We whole-heartedly believe that fashion can be environment-friendly and yet be chic. These clothes, while organic, haven’t compromised on the style quotient.”

Mumbai’s eco-conscious fashion lovers came together at Ensemble for a green rendezvous to support the cause. Fashionistas Avantika Akerkar, Akanksha Nanda, Priti Mahajan, Nayntara Thacker, Naaz Javeri, Arpana Sarup Punjabi discussed eco-fashion and sustainability with designers James Ferreira, Anshu Cherian, Digvijay Singh, Nitin Bal Chauhan & Rahul Mishra over organic cocktails & healthy hors’ d oeuvre.

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After being the jewel of Goa for the past 78 years, Souza Lobo has recently set foot in our very own city, New Delhi. Specializing in seafood and Goan cuisine, you also have a finger licking good spread of Portuguese and Indian food.

Scrumptious Goan platters and cocktails with the who’s who of the Delhi Social circuit – Rachna and Sameer Kapoor hosted a fun filled evening at their Goan and Portuguese restaurant, Souza Lobo. With heady music spinning, the place was abuzz with guests enjoying their drinks while catching up with friends. From the lip smacking Goan and Portuguese food to the unfussy, rustic ambience that will take you straight to Goa, Souza Lobo will truly give you an experience like never before. In the words of Rachna Kapoor, owner Souza Lobo, “This is as close to Goa as you can get in Delhi.”

Spotted were designers Raghvendra Rathore, Arjun and Anjalee Kapoor, Vijay Arora, Ashish Soni, ace formula racer Karan Chandok, Tanisha Mohan, Gaurav Suri, Shiv Karan Singh, Riyaaz Amlani, Harmeet Bajaj, Shivani Dhingra and artists Jenny Bhatt, Brinda Miller, Shola Carletti and Kanchan Chander amongst others.

Aspiring models converged in the commercial capital, Mumbai to participate in Lakmé Fashion Week – Summer / Resort 2011 Model Auditions held at the Grand Hyatt. Auditions were open to all new and aspiring models, and applicants were selected by industry experts against qualifying criteria matching international standards.

After two rounds of short listing by fashion industry experts, 7 models – Angela Jonsson, Bryndis Helgadottir, Keylie Bodeker, Lekha Anatharaman, Rikee Chatterjee, Reha Sukheja and Sophia Dgneid were selected.

Speaking on the Auditions Sujal Shah, Vice President and Head Fashion, IMG–India said, “Lakmé Fashion Week continues to be the premier fashion week in the country and offers the best platform for recognition of models and other talent. As such, the number of models aspiring to be part of LFW continues to grow. LFW Model Auditions is a fertile program to develop new and aspiring models in India and provide the best opportunity to succeed. We welcome each of the seven new faces to Lakmé Fashion Week. They each have met the selection criteria and are sure to be faces to watch out for in the coming seasons.”

The aspirants were evaluated by an eminent panel of jury comprising of designers Nachiket Barve and Rocky S, show directors Marc Robinson and Lubna Adams, Jatin Kampani, Fashion Photographer, Priya Tanna, Editor of Vogue magazine along with Anil Chopra, CEO – Lakmé Lever and Sujal Shah, Vice-President & Head of Fashion for IMG India.

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“Fashion fades, only style remains same” said legendary Coco Chanel. Truly, fashion keeps on reinventing itself to good or bad (quite subjective) every season telling stories and acting as a medium of self expression provided that ‘I make my own way’ streak exude from under-the-skin. Amidst all this evanescing fashion, there stays Military inspired trend, rattling classiness and rebelliousness with a heavy dose of above-the -skin style.

From last many seasons military inspired designs have been quite ubiquitous on the runways around the world. Designers imbued with war ravages, fearlessness and goriness made the military trend one safe harbor to resort to in times of fashionable bewilderment. Loads of khaki, green and gray in camouflage prints with accentuated shoulders, linear silhouettes and big round buttons reflect the elegant yet bold style.

The winters (though vanished, but never underestimate the season-al moods) this season are showing the spirit of pre 50s with the influences from Royal force inspired Aviator jackets with big collars, Russian military inspired capes, peacoats, cadet jackets, heavy boots and cargo pants. The designers like Burberry, Etro, MaxMara, Ritu Beri, William Rast and Chanel strutted on the no-nonsense spic and span military designs.

The military fashion is not restrained to this season only. The upcoming seasons also seem celebrating the rebelliousness of the trend mingling it with varied ideas. But the trend comes with appropriate style catalysts and know-how. The look seems masculine unless you infuse the feminine features to make it more androgynously elegant. Like play with white shirts, chiffon blouses, ruffled dresses, knit jumpers and pair them up with your military jacket and coats. Further, complement the look by leather bags, shearling booties ( like Burberry), thigh high boots, feminine accessories (ala Etro) and waist cinching leather belts ( in the style of Max Mara) to clock up the military chic look Or, let your look be very simple yet highly trendy by teaming up a military jacket with a tank top and skinny jeans.

The aviator jackets or flying jackets are one big fashionable outerwear this season. The big collared jackets ala Mulberry and Adam ensure eulogizing glares if you pair them perfectly. Club your favorite jacket with cocktail gowns, pencil skirts and tailored pants topped with an easy going relaxed attitude to brighten up the room you as soon as step in

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Modicare, India’s direct selling company announced the launch of its Essensual 20 Premium Skin Care Range. Unveiled by gorgeous Karisma Kapur, the range comes in separate formulations for day and night time skin requirements. The products have been created with an advanced approach to skin care specifically suitable to Indian skin and environmental conditions.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. K.K. Modi, Chairman, Modicare Limited said, “Launch of the new Premium Skin Care Range represents an important step in the execution of Modicare’s strategy. Modicare has a large portfolio of products and is constantly evaluating the right propositions for its customers. This launch signals a new and exciting phase for Modicare’s product line as it continues to stay committed to meeting consumer needs.”

The new product category includes Fairness range – Essensual 20 Fairness Cleanser, Essensual 20 Fairness Day Cream and Essensual 20 Fairness Night Cream, with two Basic Night creams to complete the category. With unique formulation of fortified goodness of Niacinamide and exotic botanicals like Linden (Tilia Cordata Flower) extracts, Macadamia Nut oil and Jojoba oil, this new range is dedicated to creating the highest quality skincare products that enhances the process of skin whitening using pure natural extracts.

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Sometimes, great designers take their inspiration not from the most outstanding capitals of fashion, but other cultures too. I can’t see anything wrong to turn east to see things a little differently. But if your name is Christian Dior and your head turns way over Far East, the result will be a spectacular, yet very inspirational design, the Dior Samourai 1947 bags.

10 Dec, 2009

In fact, it seems that this collection of handbags (which, by the way, they are all amazing!) has its particular history: the Dior Samourai 1947 bags are dedicated and created in the memory of a store. We’re not talking about just any store, but the very first Dior store opened in Paris – you can easily guess the year – yes, in 1947.

The handbag collection isn’t exactly on the regular pattern Dior got us used by now, and it’s definitely a turn and a change of artistic perspective.

Every bag included in this collection has a quite spectacular design, resembling very much a basket. Many people aren’t exactly thrilled by the idea, but, at a closer look, it’s amazing how fabrics, cuts and details were put together to create this unique line of bags. I have learned weaving techniques during my designing course, But this collection make me wonder “ HOW” well That’s Christian Dior we are talking here….

Before Judging anything about this Amazing exquisite collection… you should check all about Samourai ? ??? Made of textured leather, with leather handles and serpent rings detailing added as attachments to the handles, every handbag truly reminds of a different culture we’re not used to. The knots details, the exquisite design – doesn’t it all seem like the perfect merge between oriental artistry and the old-school design before the ’50s?

The Dior Samourai 1947 bag collection is quite an example when revealing the true capacity and the deep understanding of a designer that, in time, rules the fashion world. The bags retail for an estimated price of $3900 that is 18000/- Indian Currency.

I’M~FASHIONISTAS by MoniCa Singh

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Acclaimed designer Arpan Vohra presents his bejeweled Bridal 2011 line titled, “Connubial Convention” at Ogaan Hauz Khas Village.

His classic, regal signature style of blending modernity with the traditional feel in terms of colors and surface ornamentation makes his collection unique and easily distinguished.

His Bridal 2011 is all about using and transforming shapes, playing with unique embellishments by combining the couture spirit with elements of ethnic detailing.

His forte of using colored stones combined with white crystals well define the royal feel in his collection. Inticate cut work embroideries are giving the silhouettes a very sensual and scintillating feel. Whereas intricate Mughal jali embroidery as surface design on lace makes each piece a collector’s item.

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Designer Anuradha Ramam launched her new store at Meherchand Market at Lodhi Road. A self-taught designer, whose single passion is to keep the old textile crafts of India alive and to present to the people tradition with a contemporary touch.

Designed by Punit Jasuja of Fireluxe Consulting and Architect Sujata Ranganathan. The store reflects Anuradha’s love for a very earthy palette of moss green and cheerful orange. The store reveals Anuradha’s passion for art, fashion and music, translated in her fabrics and patterns and just like her designs. The artwork on display are paintings done by Anuradha Ramam in acrylic on canvas, her art is expressive yet experimental, which showcases another distinctive dimension of her creativity. “The colours I have used are fiery orange, forest green and sunshine yellow because it symbolizes my brand which is young and pulsating with life and energy,” she explains. The artworks are bold, impulsive and traffic stopping while the furniture is minimal and functional.

The overall look and theme of the store is young, contemporary yet steeped in the tradition. Handmade masterpieces in pure woven cotton and silk textiles on display have been crafted from the heart and the showcase the unbridled passion of the designer.

An eye for perfection- “Mrignayani” the brand new line by Anuradha Ramam is symbolic of big, beautiful eyes like a doe. The signature fish motif is the inspiration behind this collection, which is like a fresh breath of air in the sea of bling and crystals. Staying away from the typical dull and dark winter colours, Anuradha has infused striking colour combinations of lemon and pink, black with lime green, adding some bright hues and her vibrant touch to the dreary winter landscape.

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Fashion Conditioned

Monthly Archives: January 2011

Eco for Ensemble

The Night at Souza Lobo

BENETTON End of Season Sale – Flat 40% off

LFW

Military Mien

Essensual 20 Range

Dior Samourai 1947 Bags

Bridal 2011 by Arpan Vohra

Anuradha Ramam