Nifty Next

The seven-designer GenNext show began with dim lights and the name “Gaga” on giant screens. The excitement was palpable in the crowd,comprising young students mostly. But this was no Lady Gaga show,rather it was the beginning of Lakme Fashion Week’s Summer/Resort 2012 edition in Mumbai.

The show,which displayed the works of the label Gaga by designer Tanya Sharma (hence,the name on the screen) and six other labels,was a mixed bag. While Sharma’s line didn’t portray hip hop in a new way— what with net saris,polka dots and overwhelming flower prints for men and women— there were others who showed promise. For instance,National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and National Institute of Design (NID) graduate Yogesh Chaudhary. He used stripes,box pleats and mirror work in his collection titled ‘In a box’. His striped sari and striped sheer skirts were impressive. Chandigarh-based duo Manoj Kumar and Vinod Bhardwaj wowed everyone with their banyan tree-inspired line that had jute shrugs and wood embedded belts paired with long,flowing dresses in shades of earthy green and brown.

Prashant Chauhan added a splash of colour with his vibrant line called ‘Daughters of Tibet’. Staying true to the Tibetan theme,he used appliquéd and embroidered panel borders; though the use of wool and faux fur made it out of place at a summer/resort event. Lastly,there was Shikha Grover and Vinita Adhikare’s label Ilk that beautifully juxtaposed opaque and sheer fabrics in a line of asymmetric dresses,shorts,looped collars and draped midis called ‘I Lose Myself’. The overall visual appeal was not lost to the crowd.