'Guzel', Turkish for beautiful; there could not have been a better word to describe Puja Arya's lovely and feminine collection.
A story of harmonious clothes where Rajasthan meets Turkey is emphasised by abstract motifs set against contrasting rich tones and hues of blacks, tile blue, orange, off whites and subdued gold in traditional bead work and sequence patterns.
The designer's interpretation of her strong influence is evident in the application of the traditional ornate Turkish floral pattern with tribal stripes.
The garments were made fluid by the flirtatious sleeves in the gowns and dresses while the small pleated frills along yoke edges in the back and front defined the ornamentation.
The silhouettes on display revived memories of the 60s while still being contemporary as models sashayed down the ramp in jackets, dresses in short and long lengths, quilted long skirts and quilted coats. The texturing of this quilting was in fact the USP of this collection.
The sarees were gorgeous and the prints from the inspiration along with dull gold and mellowed sequence work made them exotic.
The prints and embroideries were arranged cleverly to create designs that brought out the line and form of the garment.
The base for this entire collection was an array of fabrics like chiffons, chanderis and silks. The line was accessorised by oversized quilted bags in silks and chanderis with signature prints in black and gold.
Puja Arya spent careful thought to propel ephemeral fabrics and transient patterns to make a sedate, selective and exclusive statement in her collection.