East walks with West

The day started with an Autumn-Winter collection by Priya Singh. Called Eklaya, the collection had a colour palette comprising different hues of brown. A few accent colours such as red, green and purple, broke the monotony of creams and browns and gave the whole collection a brightness. Comprising mainly shorts, dresses and kurtis for women, one could find intricate Eastern and bold Western patterns with hints of traditional motifs. As for her inspiration, Priya says, “Mainly, I take it from my life in Delhi and the regular encounters in Varanasi ki galiyan which has left an imprint on my mind.”

This was then followed by Anitha Vedivel’s Fall-Winter collection Hide and Seek. A very classic and contemporary line, it had the huge influence of New York fashion and Origami cuts. Using practical and everyday outfits like short dresses, pants and tops, the collection was highlighted with quirky twists like the large buttons or belts making it apt for day or evening wear.

Nature was the primary focus for Kavitha Chandak’s Spring-Summer collection. Most of her summer dresses had floral and oceanic prints and the collection was a hot favourite of many. The use of blues, ocean greens and pastel colours showcased her fascination for nature. Emphasis on different cuts and embroidery work on the neck of the garment was the highlight of the garment while her signature style of texture on fabric could not be missed.

Keeping up with the theme of nature was Preeti Chandra, whose collection Butterfly Fly Away was all about being girly and having fun. Her collection comprised dhoti dresses, short jackets, and beautifully embellished shrugs teamed with skinny long pants in white and sequenced dhoti pants, jumpers, one-shoulder dresses and flowing breezy maxi in soft fabrics of silk and chiffon. Her show-stopper Pooja Chopra, Miss India World, looked stunning in a beige outfit and an elaborate headgear.

A collection that can be worn across seasons and remains rich and stylish was Lakshmi Jagmohan’s Colours – Spice of your life. Exhibiting both versatility in Western, Indo-Western and Indian wear, the collection had a great mix of haute and prêt. A lot of emphasis was given to detailing, both in the cuts as well as embroideries. The dresses and sarees were stylish and elegant and managed to capture the imagination and attention of all.

The day concluded with the wedding trousseau. If Sharad Raghav’s Krishna emphasised on the men’s formal evening and bridal wear in rich and vibrant colours inspired by the lord himself, Abdul Halder’s Spring-Summer Collection provided lovely wedding gowns and lehengas, which was aptly teamed with wedding jewellery.