Lotus Make-Up India Fashion Week 2019 Breaks Labels

Find out what stole the show and what failed to impress.

India Fashion Week, Day 2

(Photo: FDCI)

Young designers ready to challenge the rules of the game - Day 2 at Lotus Make-up India Fashion Week or #LMIFWAW was largely about presenting something out of the box. Whether it was Huemn’s experimental play with Blacklight, Prashant Verma’s theatrical presentation or Nitin Bal Chauhan’s graphic novel-inspired act, there was a clear attempt to break-free from labels and stereotypes.

Here are the key highlights from day 2.

Karisma Kapoor Sports the Mekhla Chador for Sanjukta Dutta

Karisma Kapoor showstopper.(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

The opening act for day 2 was in fact a wholesome tribute to the textiles and designs of Assam, by designer Sanjuka Dutta. She brought the signature silk sari of Assam on the LMIFW ramp, with former Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor as her showstopper.

Swara Bhaskar in Prreeti Jaiin’s ‘Aranya’

Swara BhaskerPhoto Courtesy: FDCI

Nikita Mhaisalkar, Prreeti Jaiin Naintutia and Pooja Shroff’s Autumn/Winter 19’ collections were all about giving an ode to the flora and fauna of wilderness.

Nikita Mhaisalkar’s collection(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

While Nikita’s 'Rumi’ collection made use of hand-spun hemp and Marino wool to bring out the colours and textures of the woods, Prreeti Jaiin’s Aranya played with lined silks, georgettes and organzas. The highlight was definitely actress Swara Bhaskar as the stopper in a dirty-mauve sari with metallic sequin work.

Prreeti Jaiin Naintutia’s collection(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Pooja Shroff did a great job of marrying traditional Batik-style dying technique with modern prints in her binary coloured layered designs.

Pooja Shroff’s collection(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Modern Industrial Art-Inspired Fashion

Modern Industrial Art-Inspired Fashion(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Dhruv Vaish’s Autumn/Winter ‘19 collection for men flaunted prints inspired by modern industrial art: geometric prints with solid colours, and asymmetry. It coupled satin with cotton and wool, as far as fabric and texture were concerned.

Dhruv Vaish’s Autumn/Winter ‘19 collection for men(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Theatre on Ramp by Prashant Verma

Theatre on Ramp by Prashant Verma(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Prashant Verma’s high concept show had everything that a good theatrical act needs: singing, dancing, drama, romance, and of course, great costumes.

The young designer transformed the ramp to a stage and introduced characters instead of models, played by veteran actresses from the film and television industry.

His models ranged from 40-year-olds to a school kid.

Prashant Verma’s models ranged from 40-somethings to a school kid(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

The message was simple: road to achievements and ambitions should not be restricted by age. Prashant Verma’s act was lauded by the audience – from his live singing to the theme of the show.

One could however argue that the highly dramatic act distracted the viewer from actually appreciating the regal designs.

Huemn’s Tribute to the Youth of Kashmir

Huemn’s Tribute to the Youth of Kashmir(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

The act began with a monologue that spoke of how one can use art and fashion to give voice to others, to speak up against injustice. It questioned if we are using our voice enough.

Huemn’s Tribute to the Youth of Kashmir(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Inspired by the designers’ travels to Kashmir, the collection played with bold colours and predominantly black fabrics. The make-up, head accessories and footwear reflected rebellion and the spirit of today’s youth that refuse to be categorised into boxes, the designer pointed out.

Huemn’s Tribute to the Youth of Kashmir(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

While the motifs and the experiments within the designs were praiseworthy, the presentation fell a bit short when the supposed UV-light-led ‘glow in the dark’ act failed to impress the audience and had to be stopped abruptly.

Samant Chauhan Celebrates a Woman’s Inner Conflict Through Layers

(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Set amid a makeshift grassland, the collection sports elegant, and pristine deigns.

Designer Samant Chauhan describes his collection as an attempt to capture the various contradictions and conflicts that represent the modern woman who dares to create her own path and lives by her choices.

Designer Samant Chauhan's collection(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

The collection was brought out beautifully through the heavily layered designs, fine bejewelled embroidery on a range of white fabrics. The accents of burgundy, orange, green and pink broke the binary of the black thread on white fabric, the designer shared.

Collect set amid a makeshift grassland(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Nitin Bal Chauhan’s Graphic Novel-Inspired Collection

Nitin Bal Chauhan’s Graphic Novel-Inspired Collection(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

Chauhan shared that his collection titled ‘White Chapel’ was inspired by the street in London, where one of his favourite graphic novels, From Hell by Eddie Campbell and Alan Moore, is set.

Following the theme of the graphic novel, the tone and presentation of the show were grim. The designs had sharp cuts embellished by details inspired from Victorian era London – such as scuffles and pleats.

‘White Chapel’ was inspired by the street in London(Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

The collection followed a black-and-white colour palette with the binary only broken by the metallic shades from Chauhan’s signature 3D hand designs.

Chauhan’s signature 3D hand designs (Photo Courtesy: FDCI)

All in all, Day 2 at India Fashion week ‘19 Autumn/Winter was refreshing with experimental presentations – there were some hits, some misses. There was a conscious attempt to spread awareness on sustainable means to carry forward couture with young designers determined break out of the box.