Journalism of Courage
The historic building of the St. Xavier's College here served as a dramatic backdrop for ace fashion designer Rohit Bal's grand finale showcase for the summer-resort 2016 edition of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW), which he wrapped up with the grandeur it deserved. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
Bal, who is celebrating his silver jubilee in the fashion industry this year, turned the finale designer for the fashion week after 2012. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan turned up as showstopper for the show for being the face of the event's title sponsor Lakme, it was the creativity and opulence reflected in Bal’s collection that stole the show. This was also the first time the Delhi-based designer was collaborating with Kareena, who is the face of Lakme. Kapoor looked every bit of a diva, dressed in royal blue lehenga choli with golden 'chaand' motifs. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
Titled "Koroshini", which is an Urdu word for illuminate, the collection was Bal's expression of subtle and gentle grace. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
Bal's fabrics range from handloom mulmuls, chanderis, hand-spun silks and rich silk velvets. This collection also includes crafts like shibori hand crinkling and organic dyes. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
"The collection is called 'Koroshini', which in Urdu means illuminate. For me this whole association with Lakme, Kareena and the whole team is been about illumination," Bal said. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
From yards of mulmul to hues of sunset golds and pristine ivories, there was a presentation of handmade cut-works and lattice, interwined with organic fabrics and age-old techniques of Indian heritage. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
There were a lot of bright florals and ivory interspersed with subtle gold. (Text: PTI/IANS; Image: Varinder Chawla)
Urvashi Joneja's collection was inspired by the designers she's previously worked with, like Rajesh Pratap Singh, but with an original flair. The collection explores three dimensional textures and prints, and experiments in brocade.
The last day also saw collections from (L-R) Rimi Nayak, Dhruv Bhasish, Neeta Lulla and Rahul Mishra. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Day 4 of the LFW Summer-Resort 2016 saw a myriad of designers showcase cutting-edge designs that not only challenge stereotypes but also portray the fluidity of nature through fabric. Here are some snapshots from the day. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Making a stunning debut at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016, Shriya Bhupal’s ‘Shriya Som’ label collection ‘Ebb and Flow’ offered a variety of fashion statements. From a mix of sheer and opaque fabrics, to strong and flowing shapes, the line moved to fringes and floral contrasts. The colour card for the feminine separates played a rainbow medley as clear water, delicate muslin, onion pink, nude and tangelo were contrasted skilfully with metallics like gold, silver and then onto deep midnight blue and stark black. Ujjwala Raut the gorgeous international super model, glided in a gold beaded off-shoulder long sleeve blouse with a floor sweeping lehenga. Encrusted with 1500 gold paillete, 60 rose gold Swarovski flowers and a gold fringe, the creation was breathtaking with a 5ft trail. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
The collection swayed with tantalising ease as structured dresses, swirling skirts, sexy cropped tops, bandeaux capes and seductive gowns completed the formal wear story. Detailing was restricted to tonal and textured contrasts, which gave Shriya’s inspiration - the journey of the life of flowers - a distinct impact. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi turned showstopper at Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016, walking for 'gender no bar'. LFW, in its 16th edition, unveiled Reliance Retails' online fashion and style destination AJIO. For its preview show, the brand brought together women achievers from different fields as showstoppers, with Laxmi being one of them. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Bollywood's original dancing star Helen walked demonstrating 'age no bar', and did a little jig on-stage as well. (Text: PTI; Image: Varinder Chawla)
Actor Sunny Leone sashayed down to say 'choice no bar'. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Comedian Bharti Singh (centre) walked ramp effortlessly to 'size no bar'. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Suman Sharma (centre), India's first woman to fly an MIG fighter jet, walked for 'career no bar'. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
From designer Sonal Varma and her label ‘Rara Avis’ it was a truly blissful floral fantasy at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016. Called ‘Fleurir’ the fresh as the spring flower line, had a fragrant fashion scent about it, as the models glided down the ramp. The soft greens and shades of nature recreated the flora and palms of the French country side. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Gentle hues like white with pale blue moved to mid tones of tangerine and then to darker shades. The look was very Parisian with relaxed summer wear making a fashion impression for the warmer climes. Discreet embroidery in transparent glass nylon and thread had overlapping leather in muted pastel tones. Graceful and flowing silhouettes were vibrant with fluidity as a great blend of natural fabrics was seen serenely designed through the show. Using cottons in varying counts along with linen and summer silk, there was a marked sense of organic elegance through the collection. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Farah Sanjana's unusual and androgynous collection, Tales from the Deep, at the LFW created quite a stir. The designs are a modern take on unisex cuts and and minimalist chic as the underlying idea. The collection featured everything from trousers, to skirts, to dresses, shorts, swimwear, jackets, shirts and cut-out bustier. Actor Gautam Gulati (centre), who will be seen soon in the movie Azhar, walked the ramp for the designer, whose ensembles take inspiration from the worlds of flora and fauna. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Actress-turned-filmmaker Divya Khosla Kumar (centre) walked the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week for designer duo Priyangsu Maji and Sweta Tantia, and their brand GARO, which is a luxury brand of contemporary Indian wear for women. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
‘Femmes di Tahiti’ the collection theme is inspired by native Tahitian prints, colours and motifs. The garments are easy flowing silhouettes having a soft handloom chanderi, cotton matka, woven bapta silk and chiffon textures with vibrant colours. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Designers Shivan & Narresh, who are known for their beach and holiday wear, swept everyone away with their designs that were inspired by French painter Fernand Léger’s cubist work. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Payal’s collections are always an intriguing mix of shapes, geometric lines, symmetry angles and asymmetry that seem to seamlessly come together. Showcasing around the swimming pool of the St Regis Hotel, her complete command over innovative garment construction was visible in the relaxed but strong and fierce silhouettes that had touches of masculine garment elements. (Source: Varinder Chawla)
Actress Shraddha Kapoor was the main showstopper for celebrity designer Masaba’s collection, which she presented in collaboration with FitBit. (Source: Express photo by Kevin DSouza)
Masaba’s remarkable collection that won brownie points from the fashion critics, was inspired by the iconic works of Matthieu Venot (ace French photographer) and Katrin Bremermann (German artist). (Source: Express photo by Kevin DSouza)
The designer incorporated the artists’ detail oriented art with her signature prints, staying true to her aesthetic and style. Going with the season, Masaba has modernised contemporary Indian handloom like Ikkat patterns on fabrics, ranging from fluid natural crepes and coarse cottons. (Source: Express photo by Kevin DSouza)
Wearing a beautiful beige lehenga from Jayanti Reddy’s collection, Aditi Rao Hydari made for a stunning showstopper. The Hyderabad-based designer dressed the actress in her collection ‘Sia’, which was about reimagining the past.(Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Shruti Hasaan walked the ramp for Anushree Reddy's new summer line, 'Mughal India' at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer-Resort 2016. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
The actor looked gorgeous in an ethnic number. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Bhumi Pednekar was the first showstopper to walk the ramp on Day 3 of Lakme Fashion Week Summer-Resort 2016. The actor turned showstopper for Sonam & Paras Modi. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
The theme of the collection 'Mahal En Maroc' is inspired by the rich Moroccan culture and the famed Hasan II mosque in Casablanca. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Noted designer Wendell Rodricks celebrated the wealthy legacy of handwoven Indian textiles at the on-going Lakme Fashion Week Summer-Resort 2016. (Text: PTI/Photo: Varinder Chawla)
“My collection is called “Indica Emporia”. I used the Latin word because I wanted to go back in time. The fashion of India has always been a great provider of textile and culture. It (collection) takes my philosophy ahead of being diverse,” said Rodricks. Through his collection, Rodricks created a fusion of twenty Indian costume icons. (Text: PTI/Photo: Varinder Chawla)
“We are used to see garments in a certain way I felt like giving the garments modern avatar in a contemporary way,” he said. (Text: PTI/Photo: Varinder Chawla)
The Indian government must appreciate Indian fashion like the French do, veteran designer Manish Arora told us once. The same thought is echoed by many young designers who feel that Indian textile and craft have huge potential to make an impact globally. They also say that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support there is definitely a change. On the day two of Summer-Resort edition of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) dedicated to the Sustainable Indian Textile, many designers said that the current stage of Indian textile and crafts is trending globally.
Models walk the ramp for designer Paromita Banerjee. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Models walk the ramp for designer Swati Vijaivargie. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Models walk the ramp for designer Gaurang Shah. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Visibly pregnant models were never a trend in Indian fashion shows till supermodel Carol Gracias, flaunting her baby bump, came down the runway for designer Gaurang Shah on the second day of the summer-resort edition of Lakme Fashion Week on Thursday. (Text: IANS/Express photo by Dilip Kagda)
"Mom to be Carol Gracias walking for Gaurang Shah at Lakme Fashion Week," the designer posted on his Instagram page soon after the show. (Text: IANS/Express photo by Dilip Kagda)
Renowned designer Manish Malhotra kick-started the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer-Resort 2016 (LFW) with a glamorous offsite show in Mumbai on March 29. (Text: IANS/Express Photo by Pradip Das)
Renowned designer Manish Malhotra kick-started the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer-Resort 2016 (LFW) with a glamorous offsite show in Mumbai on March 29.
Actor Arjun Kapoor who joked that his only achievement in the fashion world is that he is fashionista Sonam Kapoor's sibling fetched compliments for his suave look and confident ramp walk. (Express Photo by Pradip Das)
Malhotra showcased his new Summer Resort 2016 collection based on elements of nature - air, earth, fire and water. (Text: IANS/Express Photo by Pradip Das)
