Manish Malhotra ‘Empresses’; Manav Gangwani Gives Butterflies

Day 5 of the Amazon India Couture Week had big ticket shows like that of designer Manav Gangwani and Manish Malhotra.

Master couturier Manish Malhotra’s collection ‘The Empress Story’ left audiences ‘empressed’ (excuse the rather obvious pun); and designer Manav Gangwani literally gave his audiences the butterflies, on the closing day of Amazon India Couture Week 2015.

At the Manish Malhotra couture show, longtime patron Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the showstopper. She wore a floor-length burgundy anarkali gown, that had mushroom flower motifs on it.

Intricate threadwork and rich fabrics – elemental to Indian couture – were used liberally throughout the Manish Malhotra show.

The use of net fabric with floral and bird motifs was also seen abundantly on the ramp.

Meanwhile, voluminous skirts and gowns – made up of tulle and silk – part of Manish’s The Empress Story collection ensured the models walked with an air of majesty.

It’s always been suspected that red is the favourite colour of Indian couture – a fact well cemented by models who sashayed down the ramp in rich blood-red hues.

An unusual choice such as mud brown also made its presence felt amidst the flurry of reds and pastels. The earthy tone was well complemented by gold accessories.

Butterflies Not in his Stomach, But his Collection

Butterflies ruled the roost, for all means and purposes, at the Manav Gangwani show – as the designer’s French inspired collection, Le’amoureuse, or ‘The Beloved’, had the fluttering insect as its main motif. Interestingly, artist GR Iranna, who was making a live painting throughout the show also concluded his art work with the image of a beautiful butterfly.

Butterflies represent romance and that’s what you saw in my dear friend Iranna’s artwork as well. As you may have noticed, the painting was timed with the point of Kangana’s entry.
– Manav Gangwani

Purple, strongly reminiscent of European regality, dominated the colour palette at Manav Gangwani’s couture show.

Actress Kangana Ranaut, the showstopper for the show, wore an unusual deep wine gown, that she exclaimed was almost “30 kgs heavy”! She even claimed that the gown did most of the walking on the ramp, as it kept propelling her along with its weight. Nevertheless, the seasoned model walked with enviable perfection.