INDIA’S BIGGEST biannual fashion fiesta, Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), started on Saturday in the capital on an upbeat note.
The combine opening show by designers Gauri and Nainika, Nandita Basu and Malini Ramani were a perfect start to this five-day extravaganza.
The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) president Sunil Sethi told us that there are 130 designers participating at this edition of Spring\Summer ‘12 Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. He says, “This season we are celebrating the camaraderie in the fashion industry. And, hence the opening show by trio designer labels is an ideal beginning to this.”
The show starters Gauri and Nainika took the audience way back into the 1940’s with their post-world war collection. The sisters picked up elements like pleats and collars, and incorporated them with tapering silhouettes to bring out the austerity and elegance of the olden eras.
Model Spana opened the show for the duo in a crimson one-shoulder romper and walked effortlessly with her super chic binocular-inspired goggles and high heels.
Models strutted in frilled body-hugging gowns, pencil dresses and jump suits with deep backs, and announced the arrival of colourful spring\summer indeed.
Interesting usage of fascinators, military style hats and vintage colours accentuated the collection and added a feminine oomph to the ensembles.
Next in the row was designer Nandita Basu, and her chic and breezy dresses created with natural fabrics like cottons, linens and natural silk were a delight to watch. The designer’s intelligent and innovative usage of design patterns got her rave reviews from fashionistas in the auidience.
The designer mentioned, “My collection had a strong tribal influence and I used organic fabric, which are best suited for Indian summers. The designs on chanderi silk and cotton dresses were carved out of leather sequins, which were specially hand-crafted for this line.”
Designer Malini Ramani was next with her bold and playful collection “Maximum Mailini,” that left many in the audience agape.
The designer who was missing from Delhi’s fashion circuit for a long time made a powerful comeback with her Rajasthani-inspired line of dresses, skirts, kurtas and resort-wear.
She used combinations of black and white, indigo-white, and bright shades of green, yellow and fuchsia in her garments.
The designer used tie and dye, mirror work and leheriya, and embroidery work in her outfits. She teamed her ensembles with accessories like huge nose rings and colourful ivory bangles to bring out the “maximum” factor.