JOIN USCampus fashion in the City is anything but boring — something that was proved to the hilt at the North Zone of the Metrolife Fashion Show, which was held on Saturday at MS Ramaiah College. Students from 30 colleges set aside their books for a while and instead, focussed on putting together the perfect look for the ramp. An interesting range of themes were showcased during the zonal; from bold statements to feminine cuts and outrageous — and yet incredibly chic — get-ups, the students pulled out all the stops to make an impact.
Not surprisingly, many teams opted for ethnic looks. While Garden City College put together a motley of rich garments in deep shades of blue, green and violet, HKBK College of Engineering presented a regal collection. The team from CMR Law College sparkled in beautiful saris and the girls from BMS College for Women showcased a range of bridal attire. Some teams — such as Sindhi College — also experimented with fusion wear.
Those who opted for the western category had a blast in terms of themes and designs. Indian Institute of Fashion Technology experimented with eye-catching trends like colour-blocking, headscarves and sequins, while the students from Acharya Bangalore B-School made a pretty picture with their pink animal-print tops and sheer kaftans. The team from CMRIT showcased a sober line of black and white formal wear, with peplum tops, ivory silk dresses and suits.
The judges for the event included designer Pavithra Halkatti, actors Nikki Galrani, Tarun Arora — of Jab We Met fame — and Sindhu Loknath. “This is the first time I’m judging something and I’ve liked pretty much all the teams. Choosing the winners was a tough call,” said Nikki, while Tarun added, “There’s been a good energy at the show. I know how tough it is to participate in a competition. Since this is a college fashion show, it isn’t just style that counts — confidence is the key to success.” Pavithra admired the work done by all the students, saying, “It’s wonderful to see the effort they’re putting in. The Metrolife Fashion Show is advancing year by year and the response is definitely growing.”
Sindhu added, “Today, I am looking for only three things — entertainment, entertainment and entertainment.”
Four finalists were chosen from the 30 teams that participated. The team from MSR Medical College stole the show with their unique newspaper-themed collection — they used simple techniques to create innovative designs that stood out. “Most colleges approach designers to put together their clothes but we thought we’d do it on our own — so we made everything ourselves,” said Dr Amit, one of the models on the team.
The girls from Mount Carmel College — who were the picture of elegance on the ramp — came second. Amanda, a member of the team, explained, “We’ve always done energetic shows and so this time, we thought we’d be a little mellow and coy. We were pretty nervous.” Her teammate, Jeevana, added, “We still haven’t come up with ideas for the finale. We decided to cross that bridge when we get to it.”
The boys from Acharya Institute of Technology, who presented a funky collection with printed lungis, helmets, leg-warmers and even extravagant props like a bicycle, came in a close third. “Participating in this show was a wonderful experience! It’s always a pleasure to get noticed on the ramp and we’re planning to put in more hard work for the finale,” said Imtiaz, from the team.
The last college to bag a seat in the finale was St Joseph’s College (Autonomous), which presented a ‘Going Gaga’ theme.
Irene, from the team, said, “We didn’t have any sponsors — all the clothes were made by us. We wanted to do something different, which is why we came up with this theme — it’s both fashionable and edgy.”
Three dance societies from MS Ramaiah College — ‘Inferno’, ‘FTN’ and Lasya — also came together to showcase a spectacular sequence.
“Normally, these three societies are rivals within the college. But we came together to entertain the audience. Our line-up had a bit of everything, from break-dancing to house,” said Madhav, one of the members.