Nikhil displays new age Indian Punk collection at LFW

Nikhil Thampi’s rise up the ladder of success has been swift and sure after his Gen Next debut in 2011. Considered one of the most popular designers amongst the Bollywood stars and celebs, Nikhil’s “Indian Punk” collection at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013 had a strong Kathakali background, which the designer drew from his Southern roots.

Giving the collection his marked individual touches, the very trendy line featured a quirky mix of semi-Indian style directions for cholis, boxy lehengas, short saris and long kurtas. Using Indian traditional fabrics like linen, cotton, silk and net, Nikhil merged them into New Age designs, added on large measures of commercial viability, wearability as well as a marked high fashion appeal.

For men’s wear Nikhil’s look had hints of the lungi or palazzo pants, some crisp bundgala jackets and waistcoats that were cleverly combined in styling with the past and present. The embroidery appeared boldly on the garments while the flared palazzo pants or crinkle cotton skirts added a touch of drama. The all-black bundi kurta and wide pants presented a very restrained look.

For women’s wear keeping the colours to black and gold with the Kathakali mask and gold discs as the constant embroidery, there were a variety of skirts teamed with cropped long sleeve tops, boleros with lungis, pants under cutaway long sleeve gowns, moulded sheaths over skirts and the final wrap around black blouse with long floor length slit sleeves worn with a fully embroidered skirt all had Nikhil’s innovative design directions. Saris were worn knee length with lavishly embroidered tulle skirts.

Jewellery for the collection was aptly created by Nitya Arora of the Valliyan label and to match the theme, she designed belts, armbands, brooches, head gear and cuffs that were inspired by the jewellery worn by the Kathakali dancers.

“Indian Punk” by Nikhil Thampi was showered with the designer’s creativity to once again earn his collection the “flavour of the season” tag.

Lakmé Fashion Week