Lakmé Fashion Week Day 1: Young Blood

Text by Wyanet Vaz

A creative clan of gen-next designers, OTT jewellery by Outhouse, a tribute to truck-artists of Pakistan and Anju Modi’s bridal collection displayed the many intriguing facets of fashion

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Day 1 opened with an eager front row looking forward to a high-on-experimentation showcase by young designers. Bold and distinctive, the highlight of Neha Agarwal’s collection were the flamboyant headgears and gothic accents. Kristy De Cunha’s play with colour, brazen silhouettes, neons and jarring brights stayed true to the gen-next label.

Archana Rao’s label Frou Frou showcased a nostalgic collection titled ‘Teaism’ based on Japanese culture. On the other side of the spectrum, Yogesh Chaudhary who had given us the Pacman print, showcased a striking sunflower motif this season. Adding depth to her collection, Karishma Shahani brought to light a nature-conscious generation with hand-painted motifs, toxic-free dyes and hand-embroidery.

Inspired by the Grecian and Roman goddesses, Outhouse showcased an elaborate collection with new-age maang tikkas, ornate cropped gloves and windmill-inspired earcuffs. Gaurav Jai Gupta played it cool with hand-woven fabrics in toned-down metallic hues.

The Pakistani designer clan stirred up an eclectic mix of fashions, adding an exotic flavour to the day. The collection included Rizwan Beyg’s colourful truck art inspirations, Zara Shahjahan’s play with soft florals and Sania Maskatiya’s ode to the cherry blossoms of Japan.

Laila Singh (Social Butterfly) showcased Indo-Western inspired jewellery and accessories, while Urvashi Joneja played around with quirky geometric shapes that were fun yet functional.

A fitting end to the day was an elaborate haute couture bridal collection by Anju Modi. Aptly titled ‘Mahikarnika’ the designer’s promise of bringing back the past took form. Intricate resham embroideries, regal empire-line kalidaars and eye-catching silhouettes made for an impressive finish.

Missed out on the other shows? Check out the opening shows here. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4. Don’t miss our backstage and exclusive videos here.

Verve goes behind the scenes and gets stills from the backstage action here: Day 1,Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4.