'Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week: Making a Mark in Business and Grand Finale'

Source: The Stitch Times: November 2008

Fashion Design Council of India unveiled the 12^th edition of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW) on 15 October, ushering a new season of refreshed colour pallets, clothing construction and of course many new talents on schedule, of course, which was a day later than the other fashion week, Delhi Fashion Week (DFW), organized by a breakaway group of designers. While the Delhi Fashion Week had its stars and a stronger-than-initially-expected line-up, in totality, the balance of big names has stayed with the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.

FDCI, in order to support the emerging fashion design industry of India, organised WLlFW which provided high business mentoring to the up-and-coming 18 new designers by an established team of fashion industry experts and professionals in areas such as business planning, marketing, sourcing, production and export with a view to help them to consolidate their businesses and helping them to grow up internationally to the next level.

Let us have a peek of what our creative designers had to offer.

Gauri and Nainika Make A Statement

The opening show by Gauri and Nainika was impressive and set the ball rolling at the right note. Their collection emphasized on tall and slim silhouettes with narrow cut dresses and soft and flowing hemlines.

Each style was softly constructed with subtle drapes and details with femininity, grace and elegance in each. The prints were a splash of vivid colours welcoming spring with subtle fluidity. They presented beautifully the understated nudes and grey palette evolving softly into shocking greens merging into dreamy gowns in delicate chiffon with classic use of tulle. Completely devoid of surface embellishment, decoration, embroideries or use of accessories, the whole collection in muted shades gradually flowed into spring colours.

The collection also had an old world splendor and grandeur very well captured in form and colour. The fabric used were crepes, heavy silk, chiffons, satin taffeta, mesh georgette with dramatic use of tulle flaunting the French nostaligic appeal. Free flowing swirls and subtle soft appeal and forms has been achieved through softer lines in construction details and softer cowl drapes at neckline.

 

Ritu Personifies Elegance

Ritu and Amrish Kumar's creations are synonymous with traditional Indian embroideries and textiles. Their range presented a look reminiscent of European fashion from the 60's and 70's. The dresses, ranging from thigh and knee lengths to full-length maxis, shifts and spaghettis and pallazos, ghararas and wide bottom denims in loud prints and textured wovens were laudable. Every creation had strong flower power feel with a contemporary appeal. Varied influence from the "Maasai" tribes of East Africa, Bengal sari weaves, Maheswaris and the signature Ritu Kumar style resulted in a collection that is a heady mix of voluminous and free flowing shapes, long and glamorous silhouettes and young, energetic and refined looks. The colour story that spilled through the collection is a beautiful flow of earthy "Teal Blue" and "Brick Red", purples, organs, off whites and yellows and an amalgamation of the same in a well planned manner.