Bling has a bland beginning

Sober note

The ninth edition of the four-day Blenders Pride Bangalore Fashion Week got off to a sober start. The show started late and all the events lagged behind schedule. The designers looked lost on the opening day and the models were seen running around rather aimlessly. But all said and done, the venue was packed by late evening.

The show opened with Nishant and Rahul presenting their collection Mughal Nama, which draws inspiration from the Mughal era. Mughal paintings and embroidery in shapes of flowers, plants, trees and also butterflies and birds found place in their design. The fabrics were flowing and the colours ranged from red to lighter pink and
orange. Talking about their work, Rahul says, “We have used a lot of zardosi work, embroidery and ornamentation. The clothes are traditional and heavily embroidered. It is a wedding collection.”

Next hitting the ramp were designers Gopal and Manali, whose collection was steeped in Bengal Rajbangsi crafts and culture. Gopal says that he has woven Bengal art into his collection. “We have used tangayil saris and gamcha fabric, developed by local weavers. These fabrics are what the people in Bengal wear on a daily basis. It’s made by the locals and you find this fabric in every street corner in Bengal,” says Gopal.

The show that was popular with the crowd was that of Swapnil Shinde, who is always known for his funky designs. Talking about his inspiration, Swapnil observes, “I was holidaying in Goa and I saw a bunch of girls partying on the beach. They were high on something and were doing all kinds of things. The clothes are dedicated to all the girls who want to go out there, look funky and party hard.” He has used bright colours on western cuts and designs.

Nupur and Anirudh were showing at the fashion week for the first time and the couple chose to call their collection Adab, which means the right way. “Our collection portrays the complete wedding scenario, including the bridal wear, mehendi ceremony and haldi. It’s a complete wedding scene on the ramp,” explains Nupur. They’ve used a lot of brocade and zardosi in their work.

Designers Mona and Palim closed day one of the fashion week with their line that celebrates a seamless fusion of contrasting colours, cuts and fabrics. The collection titled Monapali incorporates an unconventional mix of mediums. “We have underplayed the bling and incorporated different art forms in one garment. It’s Indian wear that is practical, wearable and suited for just about any occasion,” explains Mona.