Putting the ‘phygital’ edition behind, the much-awaited, season-fluid FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week opened the floodgates of fashion right from the first day of the soiree. We witnessed glamour unleashing on the runway in the form of shows presented on Day one with showstoppers gliding down the runway.
Here’s what unfolded on the first day of the fashion gala:
INIFD PRESENTS GENNEXT
The 33rd Batch of two creative designers unveiled their striking collections at the “INIFD Presents GenNext” show. The talented designers were Soham Acharya with his Alpona Designs and Shriya Khanna who were judged by a prestigious virtual jury. Soham presented with great panache, “The Eden Garden” collection, which was inspired by the beauty of nature. Warm tones of nature gently danced with colours of dusk, when ebony, moss green and midnight blue met red, white and quaint accents.
The fabric base was made of silk Dupion, cotton silk and cotton that came together in perfect harmony. The balance of tiered and structured looks was ideal, as the collection moved from flowing, dreamy dresses, parallels, skirts and then onto stylishly visualised free-fall jackets and jumpsuits. Saris came with stylish cholis, while the dolman-sleeved tunic and pants offered relaxed options. A layered, strappy maxi, slim tunic with tights and the mini cape over a colourful choli and lehenga was a great finale look. It was a grand visual treat as florals in colours of the rainbow were the focal point for every ensemble.
Shriya’s luxury prét collection was inspired by the work of Peter Collingwood’s Macro gauze, which is in woven textile pieces. The key elements of the collection were textures, which blossomed from carefully selected fabrics like silk organza, raw silk, novelty organza and satin. The focal point of the creations was the ombré dyeing along with the digitally cut fabrics sewn together, while fabric scraps were fused cleverly with some sublimation printing.
Opening with the ombréd, maroon line of mini, cutaway shoulder dress, angular skirt with fluid top, maxi skirt with high slit worn with halter blouse, the collection moved to shimmer. Sari gowns, pre-stitched sari with cutout pallav and white corset midi dress with linear work were stunners on the ramp. A marked emphasis on sleeves with trellised or latticework added a delicate element. The final black section was a feast of stylish ensembles comprising, trapeze line mini, draped pallav over a slim creation, a black cheongsam and sets of trousers with angular blouses.
THE INIFD LAUNCHPAD SHOW
The INIFD Launchpad show was a grand presentation of a large contingent of 20 Fashion Design Students. The 20 fashion design students of INIFD who showcased their collection at INIFD Launchpad were the winners of the ‘INIFD Design Festival Season 6’, a virtual design competition held in February 2022.
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Ending the fascinating, creative collections by the 20 talented designers of INIFD was actress Soha Ali Khan who looked radiant in a white corset blouse and layered pastel midi skirt.
ATELIER SHOW: OUTHOUSE
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Designers Kaabia and Sasha Grewal showcased a new viewpoint of jewellery and accessories with their ‘Outhouse’ brand at the opening of The Atelier at the fashion fest. Their collection “OH Dopamine” was a free-spirited Avant Garde take on jewellery for women and men as well as accessories.
Bringing the glam quotient of the ornaments to centre stage, the designers introduced a blend of silver-plating with matte silver as well as rhinestones and crystals. The raffia fringes added a further unapologetic attitude to the jewelled thongs, waist chains, sunglasses and elaborate jewelled harnesses. There was a grand splash on the ramp as colours exploded in all their glory, but the line had that marked grungy edgy quality. A noticeable aspect was the perfect medley of colourful beads that created fashionable tunes along with pearls, resin, seed beads, feathers, rhinestones, raffia and even enamel.
The introduction of the “OH Dopamine” Bags brought in more accessory options to complete the ‘Outhouse’ fashion story. The fun filled vibrant metallic undertones of the line featured raffia and PETA-approved vegan leather. The “OH DNA” bags were a new addition, which showcased adaptable belts that gave a new dimension to the bags, making them immensely functional.
RARA AVIS BY SONAL VERMA & SHRUTI SANCHETI
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Rara Avis by Sonal Verma’s collection, “Hodophilic” was inspired by the combined thoughts that give zest to life. Sonal’s fabric base was a luxe selection of Uzbeki handloom silks with Indian Mashru and a variety of cotton that were ideal for the bright and tonal colours that overshadowed each other.
The silhouettes unveiled a diverse fashion story, as majestic long jackets and floor-skimming maxis will surely be part of stylish wardrobes during the coming season. What caught the attention was the feminine, column dresses that reflected the tale of the glamorous Silk Route. The leather textures were kept geometric to balance the look of the creations, while the jewellery line further added pizzazz to the ensembles. Made from only natural stones and designed in silver and gold the ornaments added a contemporary sublime touch to the outfits.
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Shruti Sancheti’s ‘Alchemy’ collection, for her label ‘Pinnacle’ was inspired by her favourite childhood spots. The collection’s beauty revolved around the many hues of the gorgeous Maheshwari fabrics in metallic hues, while sheer Chanderi in dusty pastels, raw silk and silk woven in Karnataka clusters created an ideal base.
Putting an emphasis on embellishments, Shruti made use of German silver diskettes, metallic threads and embellishments that featured an assortment of motifs to add a contemporary touch to the ensembles. The colours were a mixed palette of cyan, burnt orange and a variety of metallic dusty deep blues, while ecru and charcoal brought variety to the tones.
SAMANT CHAUHAN
Samant Chauhan visualised the beauty of his collection with flashes of the blue hues that one sees after a burst of cool rain. It was a slightly gloomy, foggy look at the black hole that lies beyond the rainbow. Known for his extreme embroidery that has always been his creative fortè, the designer moved away from his past choices of embellishments and instead experimented with some very heavy metallic looks that brought new dimension to the ensembles. The silhouettes however remained elaborate and majestic as the models glided down the ramp.
Ending the show was the very dapper Manoj Bajpayee, who strutted his style, wearing a grey silk two-button jacket with two vents, peaked lapels and lavish floral embroidery on front and shoulders. The matching trousers and black shirt completed the look.
VARUN BAHL
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Varun Bahl's ‘Quintessential’ collection featured his trademark floral embroidery with a hint of fun and drama using patchwork and hand-sewn mirrors.
This collection brought timeless pieces that infused tradition and grandeur with a touch of modernity. Boho patchworks, fringes and ruffles were seen teamed with peplum tops and lehegas. The colour palatte ranged from vibrant yellows to romantic pinks, sage greens and subdued greys. This collection has been made by using the amalgamation of both traditional and modern designs.
SHANTNU AND NIKHIL X REALME
Ace couturier duo, Shantnu & Nikhil in collaboration with Realme, showcased their upcoming collection ‘Nomad’ on Day one of the soirée. This collection brought all that is happening around us through symbols, textures, shapes, and patterns. There were sweaters in rough knits that seemed like they were made of rope-yarn, suited to a breezy beachside, while classic intarsia featuring large leopard spots were cut into voluminous jackets for the urban jungle.
Oversized sweatshirts featured the magnificent Kirtimukha (a mythological creature that stands guard for the Gods) found in the temples of Southern India, cocooning the body in warmth, while leather and feather embroideries led us to the enormous wealth of tribal design inspiration that the world possesses. There were huge bags and vintage fisher hats, alluding to the constant Nomad in all of us, while puffer jackets and studded harnesses coalesced comfort and couture.
Opening the floodgates of fashion and how! Can’t wait to witness what’s in for Day 2.
(Source- Lakme Fashion Week)
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