Vintage Wear

The fashion show that rolled out on Sunday evening at Hotel Mount View saw Lulla present her autumn-winter 2010 collection,which was inspired by traditional Indian embroidery showcased in Western silhouettes. “The combination of fluid drapes in solid hues with rich embroideries of Kolkata’s dhakai motifs makes it an ornamental yet delicate collection,” explains the designer who had Bollywood actor Neetu Chandra as her showstopper.

The collection comprised draped dresses,tunics and tops paired with dhotis and flared pants,embellished dinner jackets on sensual lace shifts. “It’s one of those times when I have worked on Indian elements set in Western silhouettes,” she says. She is also working on on what she refers to as her biggest project till date. “I have worked in a large number of films but Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se is one of my biggest projects,” she adds. A period film based on the Chittagong uprising of the 1930s during the Indian freedom struggle,it stars Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone and a large number of children. “I had to spend time in libraries in London to research for the look of the characters. It’s a film that brings in the air force and army uniform of that time and I had to be absolutely realistic,down to every button,” explains Lulla. “The costumes for the entire film — the officers and soldiers have been put together by me,” says Lulla.

Equally challenging has been her work for a Bollywood musical that would be presented at the recently launched Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon. “The musical has 21 songs and 80 dancers. It’s a new project and it was a daunting task to put together 2,000 costumes in 25 days,” she says.