The 16th edition of Lakmé Fashion Week, held in Mumbai, featured more than 90 designers. These included big hitters Manish Malhotra, who kicked off the week with an elegant opening show, and avant-garde designer Rohit Bal, who closed the event with Saturday’s grand finale. There were also plenty of talented young designers at one of the hottest fashion events on the Indian calendar, hopeful of becoming the next big names in the fashion world. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s event.
Bollywood showstoppers
Some observers noted that, with the exception of opening night, Bollywood stars were a bit thin on the ground this season compared with previous editions, theorising that perhaps the event was trying to put more emphasis on the fashion, rather than allowing celebrities to dominate the show. Jacqueline Fernandez walked the ramp for Malhotra’s grand opening, wearing a shimmering gown, topped with a sheer cape. Fernandez said she had “never felt more beautiful”. Actor Arjun Kapoor also stepped onto the catwalk for Malhotra. Shraddha Kapoor took to the ramp for Masaba Gupta. Siddharth Malhotra was the showstopper for Kunal Rawal, dressed in a waistcoat, beige embroidered kurta and fitted trousers. Sonkashi Sinha walked the runway for Anita Dongre in a white jacket and blue, embroidered skirt.
High-tech future fashion
ElektroCouture – a Berlin label specialising in edgy, bespoke electronic wearable technology – impressed the crowd with the novelty of its designs. The brand, which showcased its work in India for the first time, collaborated with international designers including Lina Wassong and Melissa Coleman for the show. Creations ranged from a skirt with LED equaliser bars reacting to sound, to glowing garments and clothes with LEDs that respond to the wearer’s movements. Lisa Lang, founder of ElektroCouture, said the crowd at Lakmé Fashion Week had reacted really well to the designs, with many people telling her they had never seen anything like it. “It was really fun,” she says. “That’s what the show was for. We really wanted to inspire.”
Sanjay Dutt steals the show
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was released from jail in February after being convicted of illegal-arms possession. He created a great deal of excitement when he turned up for the Masaba Gupta show on Saturday.
The burly actor was cheered as he posed for selfies with press photographers ahead of the show. Dutt did not seem particularly inspired by Gupta’s printed kurtis, deconstructed blazers and draped dhoti skirts, however, spending much of the time tapping away on his phone rather than admiring the designs. Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sangeeta Bijlani, Juhi Chawla, Dia Mirza and Swara Bhaskar were among the host of other Bollywood stars spotted in the audience during the event.
Standout collections
Goa-based designer Wendell Rodricks impressed the crowd with a beautifully staged show of his Indica Emporia collection, focused on traditional Indian textiles. “What has been most satisfying is to use handwoven silks to optimum effect,” says Rodricks.
“My name may be on the collection and label, but, truly, it is the art of the cotton growers and silk cultivators, the dyers who use inventive alchemy and weavers who carry forward a grand legacy, who are the real stars.” Collections by established Indian designers Amit Aggarwal, Gaurang Shah, and resortwear experts Shivan & Narresh, also impressed.
Several young Indian designers – including Aqdus Saleem, whose work is inspired by the Middle East – made their debut at the event.
“It is a dream-come-true situation for me,” says Saleem of launching her collection during the event. “It may turn out to be life-changing.”
artslife@thentional.ae
