April 2006
Fashion show mesmerises Amritsar
Amritsar: The
two-day fashion extravaganza opened to a grand affair here
in Amritsar. The event, where more than 40 designers and artists
displayed their creations, received an overwhelming response
from the city residents. Talking to ANI, Tanya Chatha, the
show's organizer said that only the best in textiles, handicrafts,
semi-precious jewellery and other items had been put on display.
A special Navratas food counter was also set up at the exhibition.
Chatha, who had topped in commercial arts in a local college,
said she put her foot in the industry by organizing small
handicraft exhibitions. Gradually picking up the threads,
she graduated into the big league and organised many exhibitions
of her craft at various embassies including the British and
Australian High Commissions, besides Sudanese and Bhutanese
Missions in New Delhi. Her items, which included woven accessories,
proved a blend of art and fashion. Chatha had done many art
pieces herself, including Tanjore-style gold-plated portrait
of Guru Nanak Dev, which was widely appreciated. Diversifying
into interiors, she took up a number of contracts for projects
in the city, adding to her repertoire as a complete artist.
-April 14, 2006
It's all drama at fashion show
New Delhi:
A spectacular display of acrobatic choreography, Bollywood
glamour, royally clad men sending women in a tizzy and British
Queens walking the ramp -- it was all there at the grand finale
of New Delhi's Fashion Week which downed curtains in style
this Sunday. Designer duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna and
veteran Monisha Jaisingh entrapped buyers in their "Garden
of Desire" as they unveiled one of Indian cinema's sexiest
star Bipasha Basu clad in a Star Trek- inspired pristine white
gown and wacky antlers. The frenzy of the designer's mix of
lace, satins and cottons cut to iconoclastic styles and embellished
in sequins and real gems was matched by the rope dancers slithering
their bronzed bodies to the music of the show. The show ended
to a rousing reception and some serious business for the trio
designers, who are amid the 70 odd participants wooing global
buyers behind the schmoozing and glamour of the event. "The
sets, all the clothes were based on the theme which was revolving
around feminity and lot of simple feminine silhouettes," Rahul
Khanna, a designer, told reporters after the show.
The Fashion Design
Council though yet to release official business figures has
said the fashion week has been India's most successful ever
and attracted record number of buyers with Middle East topping
the list form amid the 15 participating nations. Some of the
biggest money is coming from the Middle East. For example,
Usha of Kuwait placed a 100,000 dollars order at the fashion
week last year. But not to let the economics take over the
drama, designers had plenty in store to amaze and enthral
audiences. Designer Arjun Khanna recreated the era of Mughal
romance complete with ample display of gallantry, flowing
roses, swords and huge moustaches and at last some intricately
designed coats and trousers. Khanna's 20 odd boys wooed to
their hearts desires as the women swooned to the pulsating
70's Bollywood Music and flying kisses from the brawny hunks.
Having gotten their first chance to shine through the women
dominated event, the men were no wonder thrilled. "Do I need
to speak, it was fabulous. He is like one of those veterans
who dresses up and makes us feel like whatever we wanted to
be," said a model. The Elizabethan era was next to take centre
stage as Queen Elizabeth herself was put onto the ramp. A
decade ago, haute couture was an _expression that barely existed
in the Indian vocabulary and fashion stopped at ethnic homespun
cotton outfits made by neighbourhood tailors or picked up
at faded government-run emporia. Most designers slavishly
copied their Western counterparts but it all ended as India
made its first tentative steps down the catwalk of world fashion
with the economic reforms of the early 1990s. It opened doors
long closed to Western influences and money and a satellite
television boom few years later exposed hundreds of millions
of Indians to the outside world and fuelled demand for Western-style
products. But though gaining prominence, the Indian fashion
industry is miniscule by world standards, in terms of earning
revenues. Latest reports say the industry is worth less than
50 million dollars, not even one percent of the country's
seven billion dollar textile industry.
-April 10, 2006
IFW: Models try hard to relax between shows
New Delhi:
It was a gruelling schedule for the models at the Wills
Lifestyle India Fashion Week which concluded here today, and
the precious time between the shows used to relax body and
mind, say ramp walkers. With more number of outfits to be
changed within few seconds than the number of shows, it was
hectic work apart from the glamour visible to the spectators.
While some spent time with kids, others engaged in girlish
activities like painting each other's nails or chatting. But
most of them sneaked into the rest rooms between shows for
short naps. However, all of them say walking the ramp after
spending hours in the make-up room give them the ultimate
adrenaline pump. "It's not hectic, but it's very monotonous
because (there are) two-three shows in a day. The whole day
goes in getting our make up done and then undoing make-up
and then reapplying it. It gets very repetitive. But at the
end of the day, when you walk the ramp it gives you highest
high," said Vaishali, a model. "It's a lot of hard work and
it gets a little hectic at the end of evening. I think it's
worth it. It's lot of fun at the same time because you get
to meet your friends from different groups. You keep chatting,
then it's make up change, shows on and off and by the end
of the day, it's quite nice," said Cambus Pinto, another model.
While prim and stick thin gorgeous women make onlookers wonder,
the strict diet followed by them helps them to relax during
the shows. "The best you can do is while other girls are getting
their make- up done you can take a short nap in between and
when there are gap between the shows have a quick lunch.
There are lounging
areas around and you can lie anywhere and at least have a
nap for 15-20 minutes. That's' good enough," said Shruti Aggarwal,
another model. But behind the schmoozing and glamour at the
event is a determination to do serious business, with designers
revealing in the splendour of their innovative and glitzy
creations. At least 80 designers with over 60 models walked
down the ramp to showcase the latest collections by the fashion
gurus at the five- day long show. Seventy international buyers
from 15 countries explored Indian designs, floored by their
ethnic yet classy opulence and an amalgam of traditional and
modern lines. A decade ago, haute couture was an _expression
that barely existed in the Indian vocabulary and fashion stopped
at ethnic homespun cotton outfits made by neighbourhood tailors
or picked up at faded government-run emporia. Most designers
slavishly copied their Western counterparts but it all ended
as India made its first tentative steps down the catwalk of
world fashion with the economic reforms of the early 1990s.
But though gaining prominence, the Indian fashion industry
is miniscule by world standards, in terms of earning revenues.
Latest reports say the industry is worth less than 50 million
dollars, not even one percent of the country's seven billion
dollars textile industry.
-April 9, 2006
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