Flower Child

The five-day fiesta begins on October 8 and Arora’s floral journey opens the fashion week.

Aneeth Arora’s collection boasts neon-coloured embroidery.

While travelling through Italy last year, designer Aneeth Arora spotted some flowers scattered across the roadside. These were white daisies with a yellow centre that the Italians called Margarita. These impressions stayed with her. It’s now the main inspiration behind Pero’s (her label) next collection, which the designer will showcase at the upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Spring-Summer 2015 next month in Delhi.

The five-day fiesta begins on October 8 and Arora’s floral journey opens the fashion week. “I was a bit sceptical because it’s a weekday and an afternoon slot and I wondered how many people would show up. But then it’s a privilege to be asked to open a fashion week. Since it’s the first show, I get more time to have an elaborate setting,” she says.

While this collection retains her signature style — handwoven textiles, layered styling and breezy, earth feel — it’s also about a few firsts.

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“I am using embroideries from across the country for the first time. We’ve reinvented chikankari and there’s also very fine aari and zardozi work,” reveals Arora. The main surprise, however, comes in the form of the colours she is experimenting with. “I have used some neon but it’s not a bold, loud collection. It’s subtle and goes with the Pero philosophy,” says Arora.

Arora has used sheer mulmul, chanderi and khadi for this range, with the Italy roadside experience sewn in the form of tiny tulips and daisies. “Gardening is my second passion and the space I will create for the show will look every bit natural and organic. I planted seeds in tiny pots six months ago and some of them have flowers now — they are my giveaways this time,” says Arora.

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