October 2014 - Page 14 of 18

Review

Tribal and Arabic themed with music containing the Middle Eastern beats- a feminine warrior of love was created. Malini Ramani’s tribal collection was an absolute spot on. Subtle hues of cream, black and fig complemented the bold, whimsical and feminine looks. Sheath and animal prints, straight and simple cuts were followed by black detailing on the forehead. The collection included a lot of printed textures and patterns. This was accompanied by a huge number of silver and gold-mirrored embellishments done on hand-dyed drapes and miracle jumpsuits. As for the footwear, models wore black peep-toe platforms as well as suede wedges. Kaftans, sari suits and a lot of swimwear was also a major part of the collection. Comfortable soft jerseys were also used in a variety of ways indicating the effortless transition from day to night. Metal belts and golden borders were almost present in every look. The fabrics majorly used were- silk, chiffon and crepe. Malini’s aesthetic was visible in the beautiful sobriety of the collection followed by bold and unmatched looks on the faces of all the models. The entire collection was very feminine and marked the arrival of a new dawn, which Malini Ramani portrayed through her designs!

Contributed by – Duhin Ganju
Pics by – Parth Sharma

Review

Inspired by the chintz designs, Kavita Bhartia’s collection was an ode to the Indian karigars and haute couture craftsmanship. Voluminous skirts with loads of gold embroidery could be seen. This was followed by intricate patchwork on tulle, done by using gold threads. Fine bodice and extravagant lace detailing also complemented her dreamy and chic garments, each telling their own unique story. Fabrics like georgette, khadi, cotton and silk were majorly used in her designs. Cropped jackets, gold zari textured skirts and sequined sheers brought up an extravaganza to the masterpieces. There were some garments in the show that had appliqué hand embroidery, which gave us an insight into the world of craftsmanship done effortlessly by all the artisans. Color palettes of white, mist green, soft pink and summer black were also used. In the end, models were seen wearing garments, which majored in black, accompanied with white embroidery. The footwear was kept very simple and all models wore strappy stellatos of nude and black. The whole show reflected Kavita’s vision of bringing back the rich Indian craftsmanship through her design aesthetics.

Contributed by – Duhin Ganju
Pics by – Parth Sharma

Review

Gauri and Nainika, the evening wear fashion mavericks know fashion is a powerful tool and they used it wisely this season to bring awareness to global warming. Global warming is a hitting crisis and they’ve used the striking colours of our beautiful planet to help form a connect with the audience. The show opens with modern silhouettes in the form of a blue pencil dress with a melting ice patch on it. It transcends to illusions of melting glaciers and subliminal impressions of continents. Asymmetrical hemlines, body-con shapes and flowing textures have been incorporated into the silhouette. The show then moves onto printed dresses and gowns with prints of a used car dump, dried up lakes, gas emissions printed on a pencil dress with bell sleeves, and my favourite from the collection the maxi dresses with the mesmerizingly striking melting glacier print. It reminded of the “Queen of print”, Mary Katrantzou’s design aesthetics. The collection concluded with a series of elegant gowns with box pleats, asymmetrical hemlines and mermaid cuts. They were decorated with textures of bright wild flowers, emerging leaves and stems in vibrant colours against stark white. This collection caters to the women who like to dress extravagantly and for the occasion. It embraced sophistication, elegance and fantasy.

Contributed by – Nayanika Kapoor
Pics by – Parth Sharma

Review

A surreal mix of Sufi and Indian music made Rina Singh’s ‘Eka’ collection a dream come true. ‘Eka’ in Sanskrit means ‘one of a kind’. The collection truly offered a refreshing simplicity and an unpretentious elegance, for a free-spirited woman. A majority of materials such as raw silk, jute and organdy cotton was used in the collection. Models were wearing crinkled kurtas and stoles followed by pleated and flowy robes. Most of the messenger bags were made from raw jute, exemplifying exquisite Indian craftsmanship. The modernity of the footwear was another important aspect in the collection as shoes were crafted out of calf leather in simple warm pastels. Long embellished maxis and voluminous hems were all part of this simple, yet sophisticated collection. Pastels of sky blue, mint, lavender and nude were used that gave the collection a very serene look. Also, ‘Eka’ garments in the collection were accompanied with stone trim necklaces, especially the inclusion of aquamarine stones. It truly was a light hearted collection in a pot pourri of hand woven textiles in contemporary daywear.

Contributed by – Duhin Ganju
Pics by – Parth Sharma

Ashish Soni’s spring summer 2015 collection for WIFW SS15, plumage is an amalgamation of prints which have been developed by digitizing a variety of Feathers. Images of Long feathers, downy feathers, wing feathers have been superimposed one on the other to create placement printed garments.

Feathers that of ostriches, flamingos, the Amazonian Macau and of Indian peacock have been juxtaposed in perfect design, texture and balance to engineer the printed looks.

Minute handkerchief prints support the collection by creating a complete contrast between two completely different print schools. A group of white, teal and washed chambray blue pieces has added solid relief to the ensembles.

The collection is part tailored and part flowey incorporates everyday separates keeping in mind the ensembles that are synonymous with the label.