Atsu Sekhose’s dairy of Oriental trails

Atsu for Wills India Fashion Week Spring/Summer2015

For the forthcoming Spring/Summer2015 season at Wills India Fashion Week, designer Atsu Sekhose’s collection brought forth an array of dresses and skirts in shades of grey and pink.

Atsu for Wills India Fashion Week Spring/Summer2015

His collection revolved around structured pastel silhouettes; this was blended with sharp cuts and minimal accessories to accentuate looks in entirety. The satin-finish dresses with embellishments and flares lingered in my mind for a couple of days! The bow detailing, ruffled sleeves, well-fitted, linear trousers, and perfect inculcation of sheer invited cheer for the designer.

Atsu for Wills India Fashion Week Spring/Summer2015

Atsu Sekhose’s outfits projected a marked oriental influence, which resulted in surfacing a brand new rear of silhouettes and architectural shapes. Gowns, trousers, cropped tops and capes comprised of this season’s choice for the designer.

Atsu for Wills India Fashion Week Spring/Summer2015

Controlled embellishments, detailed embroidery work and intricate surface techniques exuded an overall elegance. The Samurai armour was emulated in many of the garments, with strong shoulders, sashes and sleeves that fluttered out from the elbow. Feather-like corsage units featured on some of the garments, swaying with the wearer’s movement, resembling frail underwater coral.

Designers Nitin Chawla, Asa Kazingmei and Ujjawal Dubey presented diverse collections at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Theorem by Nitin Chawla

‘Richard’s Diary’ by Nitin Chawla – A visually stunning and highly imaginative story of a man who worked at a railroad union in Pennsylvania in the 1800’s came to life with Nitin Chawla’s collection ‘Richard’s Diary’ at the Jabong Stage during the fashion week. The collection for his label ‘Theorem’ comprised of silhouettes for both men and women, focusing on the style and cuts from that era along with practicality and personal style of the 21st century.

Theorem by Nitin Chawla

Dresses, coats, trousers, jackets, blazers, jumpsuits, shirts and separates took to the ramp in elegant, durable and heavy fabrics like tweed and leather. To add a hint of modern edge, the designer used digitally printed and brushed fabrics with stud detailing along with checks and pockets for a balanced appeal. Patchwork and layers further worked their magic on each piece in shades of dark blue, chocolate and red.

Asa Kazingmei

‘Changvei’ by Asa Kazingmei– Known for his raw and edgy take on fashion, Asa revealed a new collection inspired by the shield used by Naga warriors when at war. The silhouettes were almost armour-like, form fitting at the top so as to ‘protect’ one’s body. Exaggerated necklines and shoulders structured to mirror ‘self-expression through restriction’, was a concept derived from the boundaries and strife witnessed by the Naga warriors.

Asa Kazingmei

To balance out the range, feminine, free-flowing skirts, corsets and gowns, reflected the beauty and elegance even in tragedy while the outfits tailored for men included jackets, pants and shirts with controlled forms. The designer used embellishments and layers along with pleats, metallic studs, chains, rivets, leather piping and zippers to further strengthen the outfits for an ‘appliqués for weapons’ train of thought.

Antar-Agni by Ujjawal Dubey

‘The Otherside’ by Ujjawal Dubey’s – His collection ‘The Otherside’ from his label ‘Antar-Agni’ showcased a wide spectrum of emotions – raw and unaltered by using silhouettes for a canvas. Using fabrics such as linens, heavy and hand-woven cottons, cotton jacquards and chambrays, the designer made sure his ‘body art’ was deliciously decadent and functionally fashionable.

Antar-Agni by Ujjawal Dubey

Kurtas, dresses, trousers, coats, crop tops, tunics, jackets, blazers and kaftans made their way onto the runway in easy-to-wear shades of smoky grey, tin, brown, burnt beige, night blue and charcoal black. An outfit which stood out within the collection was an elegant cloud grey suit with double pockets paired with dhoti pants that gave an Indo-chic vibe. The collection, which was aimed at both men and women incorporated leather, piping, gathers and textured detailing that added to the allure of the collection, giving it an edgy and intriguing Indo-traditional appeal.