Caterpillar to Butterfly
There are three reasons why you will walk away from Rahul Mishras show pleasantly pleased—-he immediately gives credit to his wife for his success, tells you that he has abandoned his safety net of textiles, and introduces you to the next big thing; caterpillar sleeves. I was fascinated by the way the caterpillar moves so I incorporated that in my line, through the medium of sleeves on my jackets. If you observe, even the sleeves which start from the upper shoulder move like the caterpillar on your arms, he smiles.
Joy of Cinema
If there is anyone who can work an item number with the alacrity of a race pony it is got to be the wasp-waisted Gauhar Khan, as Joy Mitra paid tribute to 100 Years of Cinema in a line that had all the makings of a Bollywood potboiler.
Lightness of Being
The idea was to keep the treatment complex but cutting techniques simple and ensure linearity in the silhouette, but Arjun Saluja achieved much more than what he set out to do. His mesmerizing shapes, pleated Patialas, precise slashing to create an effect, zipper details on dresses, jackets along with interestingly placed flaps, made it a heady Fall.
Rajeshs Wooly Provenance
Much like the people of Punjab, the colourful threadwork executed in vibrant hues, Phulkari, made a sparkling entry, along with three showstoppers on the glitzy catwalk—Jacqueline Fernandes, Siddharth Malhotra and Esha Gupta. I tend to work with one craft at a time, it was Kashmiri, then Chikankari, Phulkari has a certain unmistakable spunk, that creates a peppy mood, almost instantly, says Manish. The front row was buzzing with veteran actress and Manish supporter Shabana Azmi, Pernia Qureshi and Malvika Poddar of Carma, but the dazzlers were the silk palazzos, net angarakhas, interesting gotta patti of sleeves and georgette shararas.
Traditionalism Meets Modernity
Plain plaits, with flowers, Bandhini saris draped across the waist deliciously, Zardosi collars peeping out of velvet jackets, asymmetrical dresses caressing lithe bodies and saffron adding a mystical edge, Tarun Tahiliani gave Maha Kumbh his heavenly experience, a spiritual twist as models walked down on the mesmerizing Sounds of Isha.
Red Carpet shine
Veteran designer Ashish N Soni wows with his clean, minimal line which saw a play of monochromes as he gets set to launch a sub-brand Ceremonia.
Gunmetal Feminism
Below all that metal, goth and rock is a heart that beats for women, Kanika Saluja Choudhary of the label Annaika is pro women in more ways than one. Not because her clothes are feminist, androgynous or as she says, edgy but also because she sticks to what she knows best. It is a bit like Gaultier, and the Moulin Rouge woman, sexy at night and a feminine, working girl in the day, you know what you are good at, in time, you will master it, she adds.
Dressing the Thinking Woman
There are few in the sea of designers who aspire to dress real women, with warts and all, and celebrate the beauty of simplicity, Sonam Dubal is one of them. Maybe thats why it is not surprising he convinced the dark skinned artist Mithu Sen, in many ways his muse to pose for his shoot.
Melodious Prints
Pankaj and Nidhi blew their own trumpet, quite literally! With a line that would make even the God of Guitar Jimmy Page sit up and take notice. No, not just because there were musical instruments, creating melody in their signature lattice work or crewel embroidery, but because the duo takes pains over finishing each piece, giving it a distinct identity.
Gulzar sahibs poetry, Fridas activism and lipstick prints set the mood on Day 1
Just like Gulzar sahibs poetry, Swanand Kirkires haunting melody in Bawra Mann or Sudhir Mishras intense film Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi, Vineet Bahls chikankari was moving. Shunning a colonized attitude that all things Western are cool, Vineet stuck to what he is good at, Indian silhouettes to which he added his ingenious touch, by making them ultra feminine, taking the traditional threadwork to new heights in ivory, on georgette.