Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week, one of the largest fashion trade events in Asia, will showcase its Spring/Summer 2011 edition till October 27 in the ongoing extravaganza. Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) claims this event is the biggest ever fashion bash with 115 designers participating this year.
Ritu Beri`s 20 years in fashion
The ramp went full circle celebrating 20 years of Ritu Beri’s Fashion journey from 1990 till the present day. The ace designer showcased some iconic pieces which have defined and redefined fashion all these years. While the colour palette was black and white, barring the showstopper`s pink dress, the show had a strong French influence. From the hats to the music it was a French voyage throughout.
“France is my first love. It had to be a tribute to France, Paris in particular," said the designer about her current collection at the WIFW Spring/Summer 2011. The designer has recently received the Chevalier des Art et des Lettres Award from the Government of France. The models sashayed down the ramp as French songs played in the background.
The designer`s 62-year-old showstopper – Shobhaa De, defied her age in an unconventional black and white tie-and-dye sari with trademark Ritu Beri embroidery on it. She sported a long, white bindi and carried her latest book Shobhaa At Sixty with her on the ramp, and presented it to the designer as they took a final bow to the audience.
Pallavi Mohan launches kidswear `So Serious`
Fashion designer Pallavi Mohan launched a summery collection for little girls at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Spring/Summer 2011, which she says is aimed at making buyers conscious about the growth of designer kidswear market.
‘I wanted to bring out designer kidswear and showcase that fashion for little girls is not just about frocks. I want people to understand and be conscious that they can consider purchasing designer wear for their children also,’ said Mohan.
The collection titled A Pocketful of Posies, had girly colours like white, pink, peach, yellow, blue and grey. Maxi dresses, some with classic chikankari embroidery, dominated the collection. The drapes with structured frills were put together in a feminine manner. Though Mohan roped in former Miss India Pacific Aparna Sharma to walk the ramp as the showstopper, a line-up of young girls stole the show with their endearing carefree expressions.
Mohan said while her label for adults is called ‘Not So Serious’, she plans to name her label for kids ‘So Serious’.
Anand Kabra`s revisits Hyderabad
Textures and embellishments of the old city of Hyderabad surrounding the Charminar, were some of the elements that characterised the Spring/Summer 2011 collection of fashion designer Anand Kabra that will be showcased at the Wills India Fashion Week.
Brush strokes and pochampalli weaves lifted their interpretations from the peeling walls and fading tiles of the crumbling havelis in and around the phool mandi supported with beaded embroidery and burnt zardozi.
Languid wide-leg pants and shararas, kurti cholis and dresses, sherwanis and jackets, wrap lungi skirts and lehengas defined indulgent and sophisticated silhouettes. References to the bird cage grill and seduction emerge through the ‘haath ki jali’ seam joints on the garments, and subtle ‘corsetry’, ‘string’ play and transparency.
JJ Valaya showcases Courtesan Era&
JJ Vallaya has always been known for showcasing sentiments and depicting culture in his garments. But this time round, it was with a touch of freshness and glamour. The sets were dramatic to represent the Courtsean era. The designer presented a nice mix of Indian designs such as churidaars, saris, lehangas and kurtas in the widest variety. Also seen on the ramp were belted saris with a peacock feather on the head, jackets with brocade background and detail work on the shoulder part. The collection started off with creations in pastel colours and moved on to cream and red.
Gaurav & Ritika say Summer Chic!
Gaurav and Ritika`s collection was chic and elegant with silhouettes comprising dresses, which were contoured through subtle drapes and pleats. A soft colour palette of ecru, cream, dove blue, mint and powdery rose were used to beautify the classic fabrics.
A notable feature of their show was that the models` faces were covered with white masks. Also, the ramp was given a new look with boxes kept on the head-ramp.
Koga goes fusion
Koga presented a modern, edgy collection with a dash of vintage. The look moved from a very relaxed and flowing silhouette to a more structured look on chiffon, crepe, georgette, cotton lurex, wool, satin, chanderi and more. Colours included dusty pink, teal, olive green, deep mustard, rust, dark blue, flame orange, light beige, brown and charcoal grey. The silhouettes were mainly draped with a deep sense for utility.
There was a mix of contemporary and vintage Indian sensibilities. The collection formed an amalgamation of Indo-Western sensibilities in terms of the silhouettes textures and styling details.
