Ghagra pants rock the runway

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Manish Malhotra’s schedule has been packed to the rafters but the jetsetting designer isn’t complaining. “It is not an easy game to create two big collections back-to-back. The creative process took place sometime back and I have been working on them for a while. However, the process of making a collection is what creates frenzy,” Manish says.

While he opened the Lakme Fashion Week this week with an extravagant festive/pre-bridal collection amidst much aplomb, a few weeks prior Manish displayed his creations at the Delhi Couture Week. “While the Delhi Couture Week collection was classic couture inspired by the 1930’s, the collection showcased at Lakme Fashion Week is a festive one inspired by the Rajasthani culture,” he explains.
Manish’s latest collection ‘Reflections’ presented a blend of Indian traditions and vibrant hues for the fusion line. This collection also saw the introduction of the ghagra pant — a fusion of the sharara and a classic pant that will give some strong alternatives to lehengas — as well as the koti blouse.
Clothes in an eclectic palette of deep green, dark beige, tan, burgundy, shocking pink, red, navy, and mustard with mirror work were on display. Fabrics such as tulle, chiffon, georgette, pure/raw silk and velvet defined the designer’s collection. “The collection at LFW is festive inspired which blends in traditions, cultures, rituals, colours and an intensity of emotions. Since I design these collections, my signature styles will always bind all my collections. Though this time we introduced some lighter and luxe collections that will include new silhouettes like ghagra pants and koti blouse.”
Manish draws his inspiration from the cultures of Rajasthan, Kutch and Kashmir for this collection. The designer says, “I always like to give a modern twist to our classic traditional iconic silhouettes and that’s where the inspiration usually comes from.”
Manish accepts that as an artist, the creative block afflicts him too, but his work pulls him out time and again. He says, “All artists go through that phase and I am no different. But the fact that I am always juggling between styling, costume designing, creating collections and opening new stores means there is never a dull moment in my life. So if there is ever a creative block, I always have something that immediately inspires me to bounce back.”