Western Influences on Indian Fabrics

Soltee AW15

What happens when the European art meets Indian vibrancy? Well, it creates something that is soothing to your eyes and worthy of everyone’s attention. The incredible vases inspire our latest collection. No matter what form they are, they are artful and each one has a story to tell. Inspired by the delicacy, art and class of vases, the House of Soltee by couturier Sulakshana Monga presents its new Autumn/Winter 2015 collection.

Soltee AW15

Abiding by our philosophy of ‘beauty is in details’, our brand new collection has pieces flaunting detailed embroidery and pattern. Expect breezy dresses to strong silhouettes, and backless gowns to drapes this season; AW15 collection is anything but narrow. The beautiful natural floral prints are blended with Indian sensibilities, casting an exotic look to the collection.

Soltee AW15

We have played around with International watercolors from genres of rose pink, champagne, beige, subtle peaches, olives and hues of oranges. Giving shape to the outfit are fluid fabrics like net, rayon crepes and cotton. The collection is perfect amalgamation of Indo-Western classic fusions intricately embroidered with unique classic methods of asymmetric detailing on gowns, lehengas and dresses.

Dorothy Perkins presents Spring/Summer 2015

Dorothy Perkins

UK’s most famous high street brand Dorothy Perkins announces the launch of its Spring/Summer 2015 collection, available exclusively on India’s leading fashion destination, Jabong.com. The spring summer collection of Dorothy Perkins embraces the key trends for the coming season with a return to the seventies and Sports Luxe.

Dorothy Perkins

The collection will be available on Jabong.com for its discerning customers from March. Jabong.com believes in bringing the latest and best trends forward for the customers. The latest summer collection from Dorothy Perkins is inspired by the 1970’s.

Dorothy Perkins

The dresses are longer, the skirts are A-lined and the trousers are cropped. Materials are a mixture of textures with knits and crochet, leather and suede – the chocolate brown suede shorts and jacket are key drifts. These rich textures are combined with denim – one of the star fabrics for spring summer.

Dorothy Perkins

Colours are a combination of muted pastel shades with pops of coral and indigo. Soft ruffle detailing and feminine prints, which take inspiration from the orient, create a seventies romantic bohemian look. Oversized peasant blouses are teamed with button front denim skirts and bell bottom jeans, matched with high platforms and felt hats creating a classic seventies silhouette.

Dorothy Perkins

For SS15 culottes are in pink leather and trousers are loose and wide – creating a new elegant shape. A fresh and modern feel updates this season’s Sports Luxe trend. Clean, simple lines create the look for the utility nineties inspired collection. Minimal boxy, cropped jackets in a variety of fabrics and textures – from neoprene to sheer and mesh – mixed with the cigarette trouser creates a sleek look.

Dorothy Perkins

Asymmetric tops and tunics add to the new season silhouette. Colour for this collection is exciting with poster paint shades of blue and green. Colour blocking leads the way – whilst the all-over whites we’ve seen in past seasons have returned. Florals are big and bold and are on full looks – on dresses and across short suits.

Shantanu and Nikhil for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Showstopper Jesse Randhawa with Shantanu and Nikhil

The show was a grand amalgamation of fashion and art when Himalayan presented the ‘Himalayan Couture Collection’ by Shantanu and Nikhil and artwork by artist Brinda Miller at the fashion week. Super model and dancer, Jesse Randhawa floated in a white will-power textured gown with tantalizing 3D embellishments to end the superb show.

Showstopper Jesse Randhawa

Four giant columns on the stage set the mood of the show and 39 beautiful creations enthralled the audience. The collection inspired by the colours and charm of the Himalayan waters, known for its rare beauty. Visualised by the majesty and serenity of the Himalayas, the free-spirited couture line had timeless beauty and elegance.

Shantanu and Nikhil

Layering was contemporary with head gears making a striking addition. Offering couture wear, the silhouettes incorporated creative construction and intriguing fabric cutouts on a colour story that had dramatic grey, white, deep red, blue and black for luxurious fabrics like chiffon, georgette, tulle and organza.

Shantanu and Nikhil

Moulded silhouettes were seen in New Age lehengas and Anarkalis, while tone-on-tone draped sari-gowns were regal in form and structure, but cocktail gowns were voluminous as they sailed down the ramp. Opening the show with a tiered tulle will-power gown with antique gold work, the display moved to dramatic creations that were just ideal for cocktail bridal wear.

Shantanu and Nikhil

Bronze beaded asymmetric jacket over ruffled ecru skirt, the sensational halter sari-gown, the grey fishtail net gown, and the navy sheath creation were sensational. Moulded and draped cleverly to the curves of the models, the textured rust choli-cum-sari creation, the lehenga with long sleeved choli and the black draped jersey choli gave new options to wedding wear.

Shantanu and Nikhil

Men’s wear had sharp distinct cuts with an interesting pairing of round skirts for sherwanis, bundgalas, kurtas with bundies, an interesting printed sherwani and a set of side-draped kurtas worn with fluid skirts, added a new dimension to men’s wear.

Gaurang Shah for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Gaurang Shah with Taapsee Pannu

Blending folklore and fables of 16th century temple art with 21st century forms, Gaurang Shah’s ‘Chitr-Sena’ collection was poetry in motion at the fashion week. The show opened to the melodious voice of Shubha Mudgal who sang the theme song of ‘Chitr-Sena’ as models gracefully glided down the ramp.

Gaurang Shah

For contemporary fashion lovers, Gaurang’s collection had irresistible heritage, and artistry. The kalidaars, kurtas, lehengas, dhotis and sherwanis were glamour personified, while the silhouettes revealed to the audience that the inspirations were from Afghani history but tailored with Indian fabrics.

Gaurang Shah

The wide range of motifs started with Garuda, Rudraksh, Hamsa, Shikarga, Sher, Bhagha, Haathi, Morni and Shikari to create a mélange of flora and fauna. Embellishments were restricted to zardosi and badla to add glitter to the garments.

Gaurang Shah

The rich weaves of the fabrics and saris projected tradition for the modern dresser. Bringing in a hint of variety, there were embroidered cigarette pants, slim kurtas with animal embroidery, a graceful purple maxi, tiered empire line angarkha and a pink asymmetric floor skimming creation.

Gaurang Shah

The four men’s wear entries were restrained to dhotis, kurta with embroidered sleeves, angarkha and sherwani—all draped with ornate dupattas. Taapsee Pannu was the showstopper for the designer; she looked beautiful in an orange/yellow sari with lush border.

Ekta Jaipura and Ruchira Kandhari for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Ekta Jaipura and Ruchira Kandhari

Bringing festive flavour on the ramp at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014, Ekta Jaipura and Ruchira Kandhari under their label ‘Ekru’ presented a riot of colours and fabrics.

EKRU

Ikat was focal point of the collection, with extensive use of chanderi, handloom cotton, ghicha and silk. Vibrant hues created a melangé of colours as fuchsia, red, yellow and lime teamed up with darker tones of bottle green, wine and navy.

EKRU

Embellishments were lavishly splashed on the garments with hand and machine embroidery merging with great ease. Thread, aari and zardosi added to the luxurious feel of the collection. The silhouettes were fluid and flowing as Anarkalis, tunics, lean kurtas and draped creations were ideal for every fastidious dresser during the festive season.

EKRU

Dupattas matched the kurtas, while dual-toned saris had shimmering embellishments and impressive borders. Shararas were worn with regal long-sleeved coats and asymmetric hemlines added to the grace of tunics.

EKRU

Detailing was interesting with draped accents at an angle for the kurtas, attached dupattas, velvet edges for hemlines, coat-style kurta over chiffon layered sharara; while the waistcoat or bolero gave the sari/choli combo a new fashion direction.

EKRU

More eye-catchers were a sheer peplum blouse over sharara and long luxurious kurta with a tiny shrug. For traditional touches with hints of contemporary designing, Ekta Jaipura and Ruchira Kandhari offered the perfect festive line.

Vaishali Shadangule for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Vaishali Shadangule

Inspired by the colourful life of the Rabari tribe, Vaishali Shadangule’s collection was named ‘Rabari’ at the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 that revived all the magic, colour and style of the theme.

Vaishali Shadangule

A collage of colours and patches formed an intricate pattern, while the clever mix of tradition and contemporary silhouettes added to the charm of the ensembles. From minis, maxis and ghagras, the look moved to lehengas and saris to add a fusion touch to the outfits. Bringing a unique blend of linen, silk, cotton yarns and jacquard weaves from Varanasi, Vaishali added jamdani from West Bengal for an amazing amalgamated offering. Colours were a symphony of hues with red, orange, pink, yellow, blue and gold being the basis for surface texturing in linen, wool and gold thread.

Vaishali Shadangule

Opening with a blue will-power lean kurta and scarf, Vaishali took the show into a whole new rustic zone. Flared sheer peplum blouse, asymmetric dress with intense embroidered yoke, choli with extended front panel and a boxy one in orange with a matching sari created the perfect mix of east meets west.

Vaishali Shadangule

Crinkle skirts were a favourite with Vaishali who had them emerging from under saris worn with a variety of cholis. Moving into rich offerings for the festive occasions, Vaishali had red and gold as the chosen duo for asymmetric top with crinkle red lehenga and the rich sari with gorgeous blouse. The designer celebrated the festive season fervor with riot of colours, weaves and textures, when her ‘Rabari’ collection created drama and style on the ramp.

Celebration of Indian handlooms and textiles at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Debashri Samanta

‘Hooked’ by Debashri Samanta- Tussar, silk and woolen jamdani came together for Debashri Samanta who enchanted the audience with her Vietnam-inspired collection called ‘Hooked’ at the fashion week.

Debashri Samanta

Eager to recreate the rustic, rich culture of the far eastern country with touches of contemporary appeal, Debashri celebrated the beauty of old and new with creative vigour. The traditional jamdani fish motifs and loose cotton was engineered to suit new age silhouettes. Bringing to centre stage the stylishly torn hand-knitted woolens, Debashri told a fashionable tale of craft, culture and hints of poverty from Vietnam’s exotic heritage. Fish and hook motifs were hand-woven on the woolen jamdani, as well as the shredded knit covers. The colour story was sombre with black, white, purple and grey being the base.

Debashri Samanta

Opening the show with a printed coat over an asymmetric, knotted- at-the-hemline midi, Debashri followed it with a black jumpsuit with long crushed cotton hoodie. Woolen knit choli under a choir boy cape, front tie-up pants, boxy printed coat, over-lapping waist cropped pants, loose square kurta and a draw string gathered pleated skirt, were some of the interesting construction techniques that emerged on stage. To end the show Debashri brought in the knitted one-shoulder cover, a printed poncho and a one-shoulder long sleeve creation.

Divya Sheth

‘Ajrakh Jo Galicho’ by Divya Sheth- Divya Sheth was inspired by tea tables with Ajrakh prints. For the fashion week, Divya once again worked with Ajrakh for a collection called ‘Ajrakh Jo Galicho’ (Carpet of Ajrakh). Highlighting health conscious festive wear for spiritual souls, Divya had natural dyed Ajrakh with experimental Kalamkari, which was hand printed/painted and turned these two crafts into couture offerings.

Divya Sheth

Indian hues lit up the ramp as haldi and kesari, and mehendi sindoor, were created with pure turmeric, henna, madder flower and indigo. Adding Uzbek ikat, large doses of gotta, quilling, raffia tassels and safety pins, the winter collection of carpet dresses, scarves and draped garments were a visual delight to behold.

Divya Sheth

Colours were muted shades of khaki, brown, chutney and teal. The military like dress with raffia tassels, the wrap jumpsuit with woven shrug and the column creation with long sleeve tasseled bolero fitted into the theme perfectly. The multi fabric draped maxi added a feminine touch to the line, while the trio of indigo satin gowns with intricate embroidery on the sleeves and bodice, offered a more formal option. Dhoti pants were visible under long kameez and jacket, while the final khaki lehenga and printed kurta-coat with pleated 3D fan appliqués was a perfect answer to semi formal wear.

Sayantan Sarkar

‘Live and Let Live’ by Sayantan Sarkar– The Kokeshi dolls of Northern Japan set Sayantan Sarkar on a fashionable journey for his collection aimed at men and women at the fashion week. Merging cultures with traditional techniques, Sayantan called the collection ‘Live and Let Live’ and revived the popular doll motifs with shibori dyeing and added it to jamdani weaves and Indian block prints. These he cleverly highlighted with zardosi embroidery adding an Indian touch to the cotton mul, linen and jamdani that gave form and structure to the garments.

Sayantan Sarkar

The layered silhouettes had a trendy appeal as wide pants, asymmetric tops, and long skirts with cropped jackets or gilets, fitted trousers, fluid tunics and dresses created a colourful mélange of garments on the ramp with a hint of Samurai inspiration. Intricate construction was the hallmark of the men and women’s creations with the doll print appearing regularly in varying sizes. Knee-length jacket over a printed dress had striking appliqués on the shoulders, while kurtas had the addition of prints and colour blocking.

Sayantan Sarkar

Pleated long skirt looked good when teamed with jacket and tiny shrug. The asymmetric skirt, blouse and crossover waistcoat, and a four piece layered entry of skirt/tunic/shirt/waistcoat offered a multiple wardrobe option. Men’s wear had fitted short jackets, a colourful paneled shirt and a boldly printed layered jacket, which kept the theme intact. Shades of indigo, charcoal grey, tangerine orange and ecru along with sunflower yellow gave a fresh angle to the ensembles.

Anju Modi for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter Festive 2014

Anju Modi with Showstopper Jacqueline Fernandes

Anju Modi’s collection was a story of reincarnation called ‘Mahikarnika’ presented by Reliance Jewels that created a fashionable journey through time. With the Ajanta and Ellora paintings and Khajuraho sculptures as her muse for the embellishments; Anju revived the age-old craft and ancient techniques.

Anju Modi

Keeping the colour of the story earthy with sepia tones of sand and old rose, Anju added rich jewel shades of burgundy, ruby and emerald for lush fabrics that ranged from net, velvet, tussar and silk. Intricate resham embroidery for a long sleeve choli teamed with mosaic motifs in white and gold for a lehenga was one of the highlights. Tulle saris were edged in gold with sculpted embroidery. Dhoti pants replaced churidars for floor skimming, swirling, grey, net embroidered kurtas or were worn with sharply cut long sleeve jackets.

Anju Modi

Empire-line kalidaars in shades of gold were layered over paneled skirts, cropped long sleeved jackets with tie-ups, extended sleeve caps for ornate blouses and layered velvet lehengas added to the charm of the bridal wear. Cholis remained constant with long sleeves with asymmetric closures and interesting necklines at times with lapels to add drama to the saris.

 

Pakistani Designers, Sania Maskatiya, Riawan Beyg and Zara Shahjahan presented fashion flavours of Pakistan at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter Festive 2014

The ramp came alive with glitz and glamour of three top Pakistani designers presented by POPxo.com in association with HELLO.

Rizwan Beyg

‘Digitruck’ by Rizwan Beyg– Working with rural communities that empower women, Rizwan Beyg’s collection incorporated soft, feminine, romantic feel that will appeal to women who long for aesthetically designed ensembles. Inspiration for Rizwan was the very colourful truck art, which Pakistan is known for.

Rizwan Beyg

Using the many designs and colours of this very quirky form for a variety of garments like jackets, pants, tops, waistcoats, skirts and accessories; Rizwan offered a characteristic style statement of his country. Presenting a funky line called ‘Digitruck’, which also included jewellery, shoes and bags, the collection was a riot of colours on the ramp. Tiered miniskirts, white bustier, asymmetric dress, off-shoulder dhoti jumpsuit, orange flared top with satin printed sharara, and printed corset with blue flapper pants were all fun filled offerings for the young at heart. The empire line georgette cover off- shoulder blouse, tiered maxi drop waist printed corset dress and the will-power asymmetric gown with a long trail looked striking on the catwalk.

Sania Maskatiya

‘Sakura’ by Sania Maskatiya– After launching her label in 2007, Sania Maskatiya is one of the fastest selling brands in Pakistan. Short listed for the 2014 Woolmark Award, Sania’s fashion statement was a remarkable balance between elegance, aesthetics, comfort and above all practicality.

Sania Maskatiya

Inspired by nature and her surroundings, the collection called ‘Sakura’ was an ode to the Cherry Blossoms of Japan. The embellishments recreated Japanese flavour with landscapes and culture and had hints of treasure chest motifs. The blend of geometric embroidery and great textures added to the opulent look of the garments. Sania’s creations were divided into prét-a-porter, luxury and haute couture for women and had the interplay of colours and intricate detailing, which was the basis of her collection. The beauty of Japanese motifs came alive in the printed tunics, sheer flared beige top, one-shoulder satin tunic and pleated printed organza waistcoats. White pants were topped with a variety of cropped tops and blouses; while overlapped tunics, a gorgeous reversible asymmetric cover, angular two-tone tunic and draped printed column gown, over pants completed the look of the ensembles.

Zara Shahjahan

‘The City of Gardens’ by Zara Shahjahan– Zara Shahjahan’s creations were aimed at making women look beautiful and confident. Her decade old label has been a hot favourite in Pakistan and beyond. Creating a variety of categories that ranged from luxury prét to western wear and couture, Zara’s designing skills were amply evident in the extravagant detailing. The gara embroidery, Swarovski crystals and the amazing handcrafted embellishments were selectively used.

Zara Shahjahan

‘The City of Gardens’ was the title for Zara’s vintage collection, where old Lahore and floral vintage prints were the highlight. Merging traditional designs from her country with modern high fashion quotients, Zara offered a fusion look to the buyer. Shimmer and shine was the basis of this ethereal collection, which opened with a delicate sari followed by an organza-sequined attached cape for a feminine top. Printed, pleated maxi skirt, net covers with tilla work, sequined sheeting for skirt with lace cover and the one sleeve waistcoat-cum-cape were gorgeous in appearance. Glittering rhinestone, scalloped kurti cutwork top with printed embroidered drop waist skirt and the cut-out sleeve net kurta matched to a flowing sharara created magic on the ramp.