January 2011 - Page 6 of 16

The label which is known for its eloquent design, AM:PM by Ankur & Priyanka Modi opens its doors to its flagship store at The Crescent at the Qutub, Lado Sarai, New Delhi over wine and cheese.

The look of the new store has been created keeping the essence of the label at the fore, making it minimalistic, chic with the impossibly correct mix of contemporary and classic. The designer duo also presented their Spring Summer 11 collection ‘Ilhami’ that was inspired by the Iznik pottery of Turkey on the occasion. In the status quo the label s now retailing out of 40 stores between 9 countries and 12 major cities across India.

The glittering launch was attended by the who’s who of the Delhi society – Suneet Varma, Hemant Sagar, Ramola Bachchan, Anurag Verma, Jattin Kochar, Bharti Bhalla, Urvashi Kaur, Shirvvan & Narresh, Anju Modi, Rimple & Harpreet Narula, Leena Singh, Payal Jain, Anjanna Kuthiala, Prateek Jain, Gautam Seth, Anand Bhushan, Jenjum & Jasleen, Karuna & Kamesh Khaitan to name a few.

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De Montfort University (DMU), a leading university for art and design in Leicester, UK announces the opening of DMU TO Delhi, a multi- themed group show by the young and upcoming DMU graduates, at the Stainless Art Gallery, Delhi from 29 January to 2 February 2011.

The DMU to Delhi exhibition has been organised for the first time this year by DMU in Leicester, UK. Creative works by more than 30 graduates will be on display ranging from fine art, architecture, photography, footwear designing, fashion, crafts, and Game Art Designing. The entire exhibition is an award winning cutting age presentation of the artist’s creation and showcases their talent. The exhibition will also host a series of workshops giving aspiring students the chance to get their portfolios reviewed and to find out more about the student life at DMU.

Three De Montfort University (DMU) graduates – Rachael Liddle, Christopher Christophi, and Jason Garlick have been given an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly to showcase their degree work in an art exhibition which is the first of its kind India.Dr Gerard Moran, Dean of Art and Design; Chris Hinton, Principal Lecturer in Imaging and Communication Design; and Jamie Scott, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, will also be attending the event and will be available to discuss some of the work on display.

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Only sometimes are we reminded of fashion being a canvas of self-expression, and when the punch comes, there is a world-wide uproar, minor adaptations and major questioning. One such stir took place at the 34th edition of ‘Moda Lisboa’ in March 2010 when the menswear collection Mental by Shunnoz & Tekasala (Angolian Designers) took to the runway for Autumn/Winter 2011.

For nearly eight years, the young Angolan Shunnoz Tekasala and teamed up to create brand Mental Menswear. The label creates fashion for body, mind and spirit. The designer duo uses the fabric as a tool for survival and has innovated in the way of dressing the Angolan man. Mental presents a fashion that captures the soul of West African: African ideas in tissues Westerners. According to Shunnoz Tekasala, “Our central ideas help us unravel the mysteries of the social mentality of our beloved country Angola. We explore the various ways that the human imagination has.”

They brought exoticism, colour, rhythm, fun and energy to the Portuguese catwalk with models strolling down the runway on the up-tempo beats of kuduro. Entitled “Tecido-Adaptação” (fabric-adaptation), the collection is all about the construction of ideas, the stimulation of new multicultural thinkers and the search for positive values … the fundamental is to allow the creation of an atmosphere where the new, as long as positive, has room in the society … it invites us to participate in an individual renewal.

The fabrics chosen by Shunnoz and Tekasala to brighten up cold autumn and winter days brought tremendous vibrancy to the runway in colours such as fuchsia, red, purple, blue, green and yellow, whereas patterns such as stripes, checks, oversized dots, Edwardian florals and paint-splashed fabrics were eclectically mixed to illustrate not only the cultural and financial disparities in Angolan society but also the possibilities of playfulness and regeneration in men’s fashion. This dualistic thinking process came to life in the clothes themselves that also served as metaphors for the ways in which life and fashion are daily experienced on the streets of Luanda, Angola’s capital.

Striped stampings, checks, maxi dots, flowers mix and match suggesting a duality of the human life. The garments were very often ‘divided’ in two, bi-coloured, each half representing itself as cold and warm, life and death, god and devil, man and woman, even the shoes were mismatched thus accentuating this idea of division.

The main concern and challenge for the designers was to allow the making of an individual perception of fashion as a form of positive renewal, where the acceptance of new ideas and products becomes essential to improve society. And our concern would be the same, are we ready to accept our clothes as the medium of self-expression or art and especially when my clothes would be speaking a new language.

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Fashion can be aspiration, it can be the lure or lust for all things pretty, or it can even be a state of mind at a given time, but out of all feelings and emotions, for many, fashion is about being dreamy.

Turning Fashion into a dreamland where stylish fantasies take form, seems to be the new fun way taken by an immensely talented fashion illustarator – Laura Laine. Coalescing and combining two different Medias to create a fascinating new picture, the young artist has created some of the most sensuous and beautiful fashion illustrations of all times. Laura Laine fused her unique style of illustration with simple product photographs and brought them to life by making her delicate fashion figures have an enjoyable interaction with the fashion

products, thus making the visual look like, almost straight out of a fashion lover’s dream.

In the series of visuals that the illustrator created for Elle Russia and Muse magazine, one can see graceful little fashion divas created out of intricate pencil drawings, playing with beautiful and iconic fashion commodities; like there is one where a lovely lady is lying possessively on a Prada perfume bottle, one gracefully sewing beads into a Chanel quilted bag, one taking a leisure flight in a parachute hung bag, and then one peeping softly through a YSL bootie window. All visuals represented the sheer love and desire for fashion that the artist herself beholds.

What bowls one over is the fact that Laura Laine is no older than just 25 yrs of age, but how with her spectacular talent she has gotten herself an impressive list of clients including Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Iben Hoej, Daniel Palillo, and even got published in one of the best publications that include – The New York Times Magazine, Elle Girl, The Guardian, Muse magazine, Páp Magazine and many more. The young artist studied fashion design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, with a focus on fashion illustration and has been freelancing ever since for the biggest brands of the industry.

One of the main unique characteristics of her illustration is the style in which she draws the intricacies of her drawings. Her predominant way of using the pencil so minutely in varied shades, that it clearly brings out the texture she wants to portray, be it fur, silk, tulle, leather and most importantly the hair on her models body. Her signature long mane mostly flows elegantly and delicately giving a beautiful movement to the complete body posture. Lura Laine is one of the few great fashion illustrators of today who don’t only have the talent to draw but also the imagination to bring out the unthinkable.

Amandeep Kaur is a Fashion Stylist and a blogger.

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin combines an exciting mixture of top international designers and young ambitious new talent. For four days, fashion is once again high on the agenda in the German capital. The event takes place from January 19-22, 2011

As title sponsor of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, Mercedes-Benz is particularly delighted with the successful start. Trade visitors and fashionistas have

flooded the event marquee at Bebelplatz to see the presentations of the designers. An exciting programme, rich in contrasts, captivates the guests’ right from the start.

Numerous VIPs again gathered in the capital to enjoy the attractions of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin, word of which has spread beyond designers and the international fashion world. Top model Karolina Kurkova, face of the current Berlin Fashion Week campaign, and star photographer Craig McDean have already arrived, as have Formula 1 ace Nico Rosberg and Boris and Lilly Becker.

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Here we have discoveredEla’s new spring summer collection, as the new label brings organic in the limelight with an ethereal and sophisticated collection. A perfect balance between ecofriendly values with a sensuous and edgy style, this collection by the designer Joyjit brings together a refreshing line for women who wear fashion with substance.

Joyjit says, “Through this line we want to leave behind the preconception that organic clothing is only about basic silhouettes. Our collection is inspired by an ecological and ethical philosophy, without taking away from its high fashion element. Our focus is on provenance of materials and embracing more efficient and eco-friendly processing techniques. We want to show that it is indeed possible to create beautiful and stylish clothing which not only helps in reducing the carbon footprints but also helps in building a green world for our future generations”.

Joyjit has explored the multi-faceted nature of sustainable fashion in the entire collection, using a wide range of textures coupled with hand woven embroidery details. Prominently crafted from organic cotton, the minimalist, clean cuts along with asymmetrical shapes, flowing necklines and drapes further enhance the earthy and ethereal theme of the collection. Undyed organic fabrics add to the natural purity of the effortlessly chic outfits. The overall feel of the pieces is intertwined yet free flowing, soft and fragile, a fine reflection of the designer’s inclination towards subtle playfulness.

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To further expand its branding activities in the world of golf, the global fashion group Hugo Boss has launched a partnership with the top golf professional Martin Kaymer.

"I’m delighted to be teaming up with HUGO BOSS. The company is synonymous with excellent quality and fashion innovation. It can also look back on a long golfing tradition, having already worked together with outstanding players like Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer. I feel proud and privileged to be following in their footsteps," Martin Kaymer said.

As part of the long-term association, which took effect at the start of 2011, the German will be teeing off in apparel from Boss Green – a line that meets both the functionality and fashion needs of the sport. Hugo Boss will be developing a new collection in conjunction with the 26-year old; it will bear his name and be available at the Hugo Boss Online Store and numerous BOSS Green points of sale around the world. Off the course, Martin Kaymer will wear elegant outfits from the Boss Black line at all official functions. He will also feature in photoshoots, adverts, events and promotions at the company’s numerous stores around the globe and on its various online platforms.

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One who loves to seduce mixing vanity and tradition? He changes skin in the double-breasted coat and trench in crocodile and ostrich. The collection is a hypnotic, intellectual palette, luxurious shades, with nuances of pearl and earth. Soft mohair sweaters, tailored suits, subtle biker touches, rock ’n roll furs. The Gucci Autumn Winter 2011-2012 Collection becomes a kaleidoscopic story where the only rule is a strong personality.

“The year 2011 marks our 90th anniversary,” explains Creative Director Frida Giannini, “I have explored Gucci’s codes from many perspectives reintroducing elements from the DNA with the 70s and the spirit of dressing iconic men as a reference." Fluid tailoring, Sartorial blazers, with tone-on-tone stitching, defined shoulders and striking lapels are enriched with striped handkerchiefs and geometric ties. The Pants are with pleats and canvas belts open up to ankle boots and moccasins with tassels. Casual chic for suit separates with cashmere crewnecks, angora sweaters and paper-like shirts. Suede inserts on the riding jackets and quilted lining inspired by horse-riding blankets. Winter jackets in maxi tweed and vintage style. Snaps with tusks and crocodile straps underline a forever deluxe spirit.

A nocturnal symphony glorified by rockmantic accents. Black tuxedos, black ties and shirts with horizontal pleats on the plastron are in dusty shades for a damned poet. Prominent lapels, with eye-catching edges that contrast materials rule the dramatic tuxedo overcoats. The Gucci accessories sketch the latest style guide with the first Gucci men’s Bamboo bag, with a blackened handle, destined to be the next must-have, in a travel size that is the season’s fill rouge. Historical carry-on bags, originally intended for shirts and shoes, become shoulder and weekend bags, with signature key-closure buckles. There is washed leather for a lived-in look, pigskin and buffalo as soft as fabric, a pied de poule print, a new web, a chromatic stamp in variants of caramel. The brief-bag, foldable like a newspaper.

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Burberry showed its Burberry Prorsum Menswear Autumn Winter 2011 collection in Milan and unveiled the Burberry Weather Boys – A coat for all seasons.

The ramp marched with oversize sculptural outerwear, sculptural blanket coats, tailored sculptural coats, sculptural duffle coats, oversize leather-bound quilted duffle coats, slim fit sartorial top coats, heritage rainwear, cropped sculptural duffle jackets, cropped hooded quilted blousons, shrunken patch pocket blousons, cashmere foil-printed knitwear, cable knitwear, cropped contrast panel t-shirts, sculptural tailoring, slim leg trousers, sculptural trousers with elasticised waist and pleated front tapered-leg trousers. In fabrics of Blanket check wool, paperhand bonded wool check tweed, bonded cotton twill, bonded wool cotton twill, wool-backed vinyl twill, fur, fine down nylon, bonded textured nylon, spongehand camel hair coating and sculptural doeskin.

The entire line followed the monochromatic theme in colours of Black, dark charcoal, mid grey mélange, ink, thistle blue, bright royal blue, bright teal blue, mid brown, dark clove brown, loam, camel, honey, primary red, bright amber, tangerine, bright caper and natural white.

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Monthly Archives: January 2011

Flagship Store by AM:PM

DMU to Delhi

Mental Fashion Era

The Dream weaver

Mercedes-Benz FWB

Ela

Hugo Boss with Golf

Gucci AW 2011

Burberry AW 11 Menswear