JOIN USIf there’s one thing that colleges in the South Zone of the Metrolife Fashion Show proved, it’s that they have a flair for fashion. The teams took to the ramp with an extravagant display of creativity, showcasing a variety of themes that they had obviously put a lot of thought into. Whether it was in the ethnic or western categories, students tried to infuse their collections with a twist — the result being a show that highlighted the most creative of campus fashion.
A whopping 26 colleges took part in this zonal. Jyoti Nivas Degree College was the first college on the ramp and set the perfect tone for the rest of the show with a dramatic collection of vintage wear. Bold make-up, chic animal-print hairbands and chequered hats added to the charm of their show. The girls from Baldwin Women’s Methodist College were a vision in cream silk, while the students of NLSIU showcased a collection of dresses in pale gold, white lace and red. Jain College opted for a denim theme, while the boys from KLE’s S Nijalingappa College presented a delightfully different mafia-themed collection — each of them dressed like a don, whether in a lungi or in a Godfather-esque get-up.
The girls from Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College also stood out for the interesting props they used — a flute, peacock feathers and baskets of flowers. The PU students of Jyoti Nivas College opted for a garage theme and carried off their ripped leggings, polka-dotted jumpsuits and tattered white jackets — as well as smatterings of grease — with elan.
The judges for the evening were actors Tharun Chandra, Kriti Kharbanda and Rajshri Ponnappa as well as model Priya Nayak. “I enjoyed every minute of the show. Each team was special in their own way — it was a healthy show,” says Priya. Tharun, who was impressed by the quality of the collections, adds, “It was a tough competition among the top teams. I liked a few designs and want to incorporate a few of them in my films. I usually don’t enjoy fashion shows — but this was very
special.”
Kriti admits that the show was like a walk down memory lane for her. “I felt like going back to college! It brought back great memories.” Rajshri adds, “The outfits of the winning team stood out — as soon as they came on the ramp, we all knew that this was the team that was going to win. The efforts of the other teams were seen and it was a great show.”
The students of Oxford College also presented a dance sequence, which was based on a patriotic theme. They set it to a medley of popular Bollywood numbers and got the crowd cheering. “We’ve never done something like this before — we did it in honour of Independence Day, which was recently celebrated,” explains Prashanth, a third-year BSc student who was part of the troupe. “It has many different styles in it. We started off with something contemporary and finished with a bit of lyrical hip-hop.”
Given the kind of designs that were showcased, it wasn’t easy for the judges to zero in on the four finalists. Eventually, Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology walked away with the first prize. Their collection was based on a rural theme with a twist and comprised raw-silk printed jackets and sparkling props. “We went for a theme that’s been used before — we wanted to showcase the different states of India. However, we tried to keep it as different as we could. Everything that we’ve learnt as design students has been put into these garments,” says Arzoo, one of the designers from the college.
New Horizon College came second with their unique ethnic collection, which displayed innovative drapes. Aaron, one of the models on the team, says, “We stuck to the ethnic theme. Usually, people go for design but we decided to be a little different and focussed on the drapes. We’ve used clips to add volume to the outfits. Of course, it was tough because the designs aren’t that comfortable but otherwise, we had a great time.” The Oxford College of Science also bagged a place in the finale with a futuristic theme, which included metallic headgear, sky-high heels, leggings and bright neon shades. “We opted for a zero gravity theme. We went for neon colours and modern designs and were totally expecting to win!” says Usha, one of the models.
The fourth college to make it to the finals is Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, which showcased an extravagant ethnic collection — ghagras with wide borders, sequins and accessorised with heavy jewellery.
“We have a legacy to uphold — we won last year and want to do so again this time. Through our theme, we wanted to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere,” says Najam, the coordinator of the team.
The stage is now set for the finale, which will be held on August 31 at Dayananda Sagar Institutions. The eight teams that will be battling it out on the ramp are MSR Medical College, Mount Carmel College, Acharya Institute of Technology, St Josephs’s College (Autonomous), Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, New Horizon College and The Oxford College of Science.