The stride of victory

Fashion is life and just like life, you must always express your feelings freely’.

This seemed to be the mantra at the South Zone preliminaries of the seventh edition of ‘Deccan Herald Metrolife Fashion Show’, presented by TRENDS, that was held at NMKRV College for Women, Jayanagar.

Innovative concepts, extravagant outfits, eclectic designs and oodles of attitude combined together in a spectacular medley that saw colleges engaged in a battle of style. Mount Carmel College walked away with the top honours for their elegant collection that wove a vintage note of nobility in a Maharani’s contemporary style.

Plain and printed chiffon and georgette saris were paired with traditional jewellery and quirky sunglasses to create a runway-ready line.

The second prize went to T John College for a collection inspired by the ancient frescoes of Kerala. Off-white hand-stitched garments were beautifully decorated with vibrant hand-painted designs and these were complemented by exotic headgear and huge props that stayed true to the theme chosen.

The third prize went to Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology. The line was inspired from a dystopian era with battle-weary humans and brought the house down. As the theme suggests, the garments were mostly grey and black with innovative cuts and quirky silhouettes.

Surana College bagged the fourth place for their collection based on Sufism and being one with the higher being.

The gold and white garments saw a stunning display of full skirts, turbans and glittering jewellery. The minimalistic line drew wild cheers from the audience.

Fifth place went to The Oxford College of Science for a collection titled ‘The Desi Blend’.

Khadi fabric was used to create western silhouettes that were complemented by extravagant white embellishments. Unconventional designs and bright colours characterised the outfits worn by men.

The other teams too put up impressive displays that drew ecstatic appreciation from the crowd. Indian Institute Of Fashion Technology showcased black dresses with shimmery blue detailing and glow-in-the-dark props that were inspired by bioluminescence of marine organisms.

Reddy Jana Sangha First Grade College modelled a collection based on the theme of ‘Go green’ while Dayananda Sagar University brought out a candy-themed collection that combined pale pinks and bright reds with multi-coloured embellishments, balloons and sneakers.

PES College of Pharmacy brought out a line inspired by the casino with cards, dice and related motifs. VET First Grade College brought out a picturesque collection, that included rich Kanjeevarams, flowers and striking jewellery, based on the works of legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma. Baldwin Methodist College showcased a medley of silks, sequins and net fabric to present an array aimed at the modern age queen. RV Institute of Management brought out an innovative range aimed at highlighting the menace of pollution.

Plastic and sack cloth were the predominant materials used in the outfits along with headgear made from straws and paper cups. Indo-western fusion wear was a preferred choice with many colleges option to showcase creative variations of this.

GIBS Business School, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, IFIM Business School and IFIM College were among the few that combined drapes and saris with western wear to showcase offbeat garments.

The crowd was kept entertained in between with high-octane dance performances by teams from NMKRV College for Women, Jain University and Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology. RJ Amar got the crowd to alternate between laughter and enthusiastic cheers while DJ Raz kept up the tempo with some peppy numbers.

The competition was judged by Sushruthi Krishna, first runner-up at Miss India 2016, actor and model Vishnuraj S Menon, fashion designer Riya Kodali and Sandalwood actor Sharmiela Mandre.

Sushruthi reminisced about her time as a participant at the second season of the ‘Metrolife Fashion Show’ while Vishnuraj exhorted the students to chase their dreams. Both Riya and Sharmiela were all praises for the energy of the crowd. The winners of the South Zone preliminaries will be meeting the North Zone winners in the grand finale, which will be held on September 2 at Dayanand Sagar Institutions, Kumaraswamy Layout.