Kaashi is a legendary city on the banks of Ganges and the hub of all Hindu religious and is the spiritual capital of India while Kyoto is the spiritual centre of Japan having maximum temples and ancient inheritance.

As a part of ‘reinvent Banaras’, to emulate the revival of culture ,conservation of heritage and the infrastructure of  Kyoto in Kaashi is commendable and the deep Japanese and Buddhist influence seen on the Ghats of Benares has inspired W/F 2015 collection of Shruti Sancheti, to be showcased at ongoing Lakme Fashion Week.

The color palette is trendy  and totally international with azure blue, crimson, sapota (chikoo), ivory, gold ,deep purple, wine etc and the fabrics used are luxurious brocades, fine gicha silk, sheer bengal dupion, cotton silk, chanderi etc.

The silhouettes are au courant like midi dresses, long shirt dresses, crop tops with skirts, jackets with ghagras, capes, throws, wide pleated pants,culottes, kimono tops with a strong emphasis on immaculate construction, impeccable finishing and deft detailing. Exquisite and intricate surface ornamentation like dori embroidery, resham embroidery, an adaptation of ginkgo leaf motif from Japan, and rich gold printing add the festive touch to the collection.

‘Indira et Amrita’ collection by designer Nikasha Tawadey draws inspiration from the glamorous SherGil sisters- Amrita and Indira and their enchanting lives in Hungary, Paris and India.

Tawadey has drawn upon the flamboyance of their lifestyles to create a line replete with artist Amrita’s favourite lily blossoms, Art Deco elements, silk fringes, zardozi and French knots. She has used elegant crystals and pearls to bring alive the detailed elements like fringes and hand-embroidery. Further she has incorporated 1920’s beautiful hand embroidered crescent moon into the collection.

For this season, the designer has opted for silhouettes like low waist flapper inspired jumpsuits to bias cut double tiered sari inspired tops, cowl pants with strappy tops, fringed kimono and gathered sharara pants. To complete the outfits, Nikasha has also created accessories handcrafted with pearls, feathers, fringes, printed & embroidered fabric.

Designer Rinku Sobti is set to rock the ramp of Lakme Fashion Week W|F 2015 with collection ‘tassels’ inspired from the handloom tradition of Varanasi.

The designer has interwoven contemporary and traditional styles of Varanasi – the subtle and the grand in her collection. The subtle is presented through innovative cuts and checks while the grand is seen in the detailing of the traditional crafts with outstanding ornaments that match the vivid color palette of the fabrics.

Clean cuts and strong lines are seen on chic garments like skirts, high and low jackets, sarees, jumpsuits and woven formal lehengas. The collection is made of fine silks, hand woven by the best craftsmen in the country. The unique silk net weaves that are a heritage and specialty of the Bajardiyaweavers brilliantly feature in the check patterns of the prêt designs.