Amazon India Fashion Week: Ramp turns into ‘classroom’ on Day 4

Models display creations by designer Aneeth Arora on the runway, recreated as a classroom, during the Amazon India Fashion Week in New Dellhi. (Photo: Bunny Smith)

Day 4 of the Amazon India Fashion Week saw star line-up of designers along with Bollywood showstoppers. Designer Rina Singh of brand Eka kickstarted the day. The brand’s signature vibe was kept alive with cosy pleated and polka dot dresses paired with palazzos, checkered and plain dresses in warm colours.

The stripes were simple, pared back and devoid of colours. With a black and white and neutral palette, the brand utilised silks, wools, linens, cotton silks with wool blending, merino, natural linen with gold textural weaves, etc. Eka’s muses were artistes Philippe Decrauzat, Jeppe Hein, Alphonso Artiaco and John Paul Phillip whose artwork inspired the metallic highlighting on garments, layering opulence, and colour direction and pattern.

Bodice’s women glided in flat mules and slipped off and on with ease wearing colour-coated fabrics that offered structure to the weightlessness of cotton. Natural dyes played a key part in achieving the prime colour story — indigo and grey and saw the usage of Mashru in several reversible silhouettes. Lean trousers, dresses with waist pleats in heavy wool, long oversized shirts and tunics paired with wool scarves were the key highlights and accessories such as soft leather clogs and wood and metal neckpieces added to the mature vibe of the collection.

Live music accompanied Anavila’s collection, “The folk”, as she brought down the house with a visual treat of amaranthine saris and introduced a few modern silhouettes like printed trousers, wool kaftans and the jackets for the first time. Her technique is an autoschediasm of traditional weaves which is catalyst in giving the classic drape a re-look via her signature anti-fit blouses in contrasting colours. Brand Ashima-Leena presented their collection that was influenced by the rich divine motifs of Persian carpets in a luxurious prêt collection titled “Fragrance of Persia”. It was a complete range of cascading prints, applique and playful tassels originating from an analysis on Persian culture peppered with authentic elements of Persia. Mandira Wirk, on the other hand, presented a collection inspired from the artistic movement of Rococo. The collection comprised intricate designs in constructed jackets, panelled palazzos, layered anarkalis, wearable separates-in of ivory, gold, black, beige, grey, pink and blue. Her muse, Malaika Arora Khan, was her showstopper who made a bold appearance amid all the controversies surrounding her divorce with Arbaaz Khan.

Designer Aneeth Arora’s Pero is that one label in the Indian fashion world that audiences desperately wait for every season. Aneeth’s show titled “Pippi Goes to Poppy Fields” was inspired by Pippi Longstocking, the protagonist of Astrid Lindgren’s eponymous series of children’s books. She recreated the ramp and made it look like a classroom with a live band imitating the noise of a classroom full of naughty students and their strict class teacher. Handwoven fabrics such as pashmina wool, khadi, lace, merino, cotton, chanderi, denims and angora wool reigned the collection in silhouettes ranging from loose dresses, reversible short and long jackets, anti-fit tops and more. The pattern story spoke of ginghams, checks, stripes of various length and width along with floral embroideries. Next, Namrata Joshipura’s was inspired from the creativity and vibrancy of New York City. The designer presented a line of shimmering occasion gowns, jumpsuits, separates, pant suits in her signature colour palette blacks, berries and reds. She used a wide range of fabrics from jersey, sheer to menswear, net and georgette. Sporting an embellished black jumpsuit, newcomer Athiya Shetty exuded grace and charisma as she played a perfect muse to Namrata and closed the show for day 4.