Some old romance on Day 4

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Day 4 started on a nostalgic note with Dev r Nil transporting the audience to the days of love letters, clay pots, doilies and colour pencils. The show area resonated with Bangla tunes as kitsch and pop art took to stage. Soon we saw

graphic weaves in eye popping colours from the weaves of Bengal. Detailed cut work and appliqué done by hand were impressive. The sunglasses print on dresses, pants and jumpsuits transitioned to vintage cars on jackets, trousers and saris. Bright yellows, kitschy greens, coral pinks, cobalt blues and choco browns kept the yes engaged. The silhouettes remained non-fussy and fluid while layering added to the fun quotient. Talking about their collection, the duo said, “Memories are strange. They can be really sad but we have tried to bring only happy memories through our clothes. We expect people to connect to our sensibilities.”
Anand Bhushan, who shared his show with the duo, sent out models amidst the peppy Harry Potter music. He moulded his Indian tribes-inspired line of dresses in silk chiffon, organza, crepe and lasercut georgette. Tribal jewellery especially the white chunky nose rings added drama to the look. Animal skin textures and patterns were kept subtle and interpreted through ornate surface styles.
The highlight of his collection were the sequin-curled dresses which as Anand says are “conceptual pieces” twirled to create textures.
Though we did see a few unfinished garments done in haste and wacky colour schemes, the organza jackets with embellishments, which are big this season by the way, saved him. Another plus was the availability of different silhouettes for varying body structures.
Alpana and Neeraj’s SS collection was a confused amalgam of structures and shapes. The models sashayed down the ramp trapped in moulds as the duo tried to explore the human anatomy. So there were rib cages, pelvic girdles, clavicles, scapulas and what nots. The moulds definitely took the attention away from the garments hidden underneath. Dresses made of bandages, surgical gloves didn’t make for a happy sight either. While the clothes looked like they have been crafted in a science laboratory, one wondered what the designers were upto?
Designer Atsu Sekhose was the next to paint a magical world. He fused traditional couture techniques to create his ready-to-wear line. Atsu layered soft voile, cotton silk, organza and used digital prints to give a character to the garments. He revisited his signature silhouettes of tapered skirts, layered peplums and floor-length gowns. Somehow the silhouettes failed to accept the heavy embellishments. Cut work which is back with a bang and incorporated by almost every designer was seen in Atsu’s collection as well.
Mynah by Reynu Taandon celebrated the union of prints with embroideries. A veteran in the business of textures, colours and fabrics, Reynu showcased some really innovative designs on the ramp. She assembled cut-work shirt dresses, printed jumpsuits, dresses in varied lengths, pants, shorts and used a lot of lace to bind it all.