The Uncensored Household
WIFW Pankaj & Nidhi SS14
Intricate adornments from Pompeii all the way to Medieval church facades…Indian designer duo, Panjak & Nidhi seemed to thoroughly enjoy researching the inspiration behind their Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Hand cut fabrics appliqued to give a 3D effect and transparency were key looks.
WIFW Designer: Anupamaa
Internationally acclaimed fashion designer, Anupama Dayaal kicked off Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer14 with an explosion of colour and bold prints. Some collections could be viewed as transcending seasons, however, Anupamaa’s screamed SUNSHINE. Bright pinks, orange and yellow tones worn with tousled hair and beach foot accessories completed the looks.
Potentially visible from space, in a few days time Delhi will overflow with glamour, sparkles and celebrities as two couture weeks begin back to back. Indian couture is synonymous with bridal wear except this season India Bridal Fashion Week will showcase before PCJ Delhi Couture Week (PCJ is a jewellery company and the main sponsor).
One of the reigning kings of Indian couture, JJ Valaya,
Design by Payal Pratap
Payal Pratap and Rahul Mishara’s presentations were sponsored by Fiama Di Wills, the Indian beauty product giant. Under the theme ‘Be Young’ both collections pined for yesteryear.
Payal Pratap’s collection was subtitled ‘Opening my Grandmother’s Trunk’
Styled and visualised in the theme of a circus, the circus was not actually cited in the show notes. Pero by Aneeth Arora is the winner of Vogue India’s first Fashion Fund and this was her first presentation since winning the award, for which she received the cash prize after the show.
Indian Celebrity, Esha Gupta featured in Manish Malhotra’s show
There are few designers in the Indian fashion industry that can start a trend like Manish Malhotra. His influence in Indian cinema is so great and the trickling effect on to TV sets beamed around a billion homes is no small accomplishment. In this way,
Designer Rajdeep Ranawat’s collection was inspired by a hypothetical world with a hint of exotic Medieval. The collection featured intricate embroideries and lovely accessories. The Elton John embellished glasses were my favourite.
Over at Rajesh Pratap Singh’s show the catwalk had been transformed into an Autumnal woodland. Rajesh Pratap Singh is the current brand ambassador for Woolmark and the show was sponsored by them.
The ground lay strewn with rust coloured foliage and bleak trees glowed with pod lights. The effect was magical.
Kavita Bhartia is the owner of the Ogaan chain of boutiques with stores in Delhi and Mumbai. Kavita started her own label in 2001.
The collection she presented this season was entitled ‘Hypercraft’ to reflect her combining technology and craft for her designs.
One of my favourite collections so far at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2013 is Shantanu & Nikhil‘s ode to the luxury traveller with reference to The Thar, India’s largest desert.
Designer Tarun Tahiliani is a formidable force in the Indian fashion industry and this season he took inspiration from the Kumbh, a religious festival, and Sadhus – the saffron draped wandering spiritual men.
So said fashion icon, Diana Vreeland and how right she was! Whilst there was plenty navy blue in the recent fashion weeks showcasing next season’s Spring/Summer collections we will soon see if there is just as much pink in India’s fashion presentation.
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 will take place in Delhi from 6 – 10 October 2012. The venue is
Day 4 of PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012 presented two shows of opposite extremes. Both designers referenced bridalwear but whereas Shantanu & Nikhil’s fantasy bride was gothic and dark, Manish Malhotra’s was a fluttery sugar-dipped princess.
Shantanu & Nikhil’s show notes were far too deep in reference points especially since they threw in the towel and conformed to produce a bridalwear collection. Why not simply state that you want to do a different type of couture collection?
A much anticipated show during PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012 was the return of Indian fashion’s showman extraordinaire, Manish Arora.
Manish very recently spent two seasons at the helm of Paco Rabanne in Paris and prefers to show in Paris in any case. It’s not difficult to see why, his is the only collection with a distinctly Western feel and not a bridal gown in sight. I’ve been to a few Manish Arora shows over the years and his creativity is truly inspiring. The energy and zeal in his collections are inimitable, however, my compliments end there on this occasion.
Design duo, Pankaj &Nidhi took inspiration from Polish craft for the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. Quite a niche look hey? The designers managed to make Polish craft look wonderfully contemporary as they zoomed their focus
A few Indian newspapers lamented over the weekend that the Bollywood stars who attended Cannes this year did not wear Indian dress or Indian designers but opted for Armani, Tom Ford, Lanvin and so on. I think this is quite hypocritical as Indian actors are part of a global celebrity industry and it’s only natural for people to want a new look every so often.
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