Machis by Nida Mahmood
Collection draws inspiration from the matchboxes of India.
The art on the matchboxes forms a very large, vibrant and unique canvas of popular Indian street art and culture.
Indian Pop Art being our consistent muse, matchbox art graphics were picked, created, re-created to sketch the protagonist in this narrative. Going further and deeper, matches and the matchbox flavor inspires explosive forms and patterns manifested on the garments, art, accessories and products.
God is in the Details by Roma Narsinghani
Collection inspired by the great architectural marvel sagrada famalia , a church in Barcelona, Spain . Considered the master-work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The collection depicts the bold structure of the church blending it with warmth and serenity felt within the church. Straight lines are placed near concentric circles to create unique prints/ embroidery and basic silhouettes are teamed with ruffled and pleated chiffon and tulle drapes. Light Pastel shades are merged with edgy surface prints and embroidery, fabric manipulation which form unique silhouettes.
Today’s woman speaks her mind, and walks the talk. She’s creative, innovative, experimental and visionary. She desires power and she achieves, possessing a sense of individuality that turns heads as she struts down the path of tomorrow – She is a Woman of the World.
Designer showcased her collection at the LG Fashion Week, Canada in October 2009 and was one of the winners of the emerging designer competition held at the Dubai Fashion Week, 2009 resulted in awarding with a free runway show.
The Journey – Having graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design & London College of Fashion specializing in Fashion Design Technology-Surface Textiles as well as working under the tutelage of design legends like Manish Arora and Alexander Mcqueen, Roma has unraveled her design philosophy that “God is in the Details”. Her strengths prevail with her keen eye for intricate prints that by a flick of a wrist turns into functional designed silhouettes of theatrical finesse. Her designs are for a modern Indian woman, Chic, Savvy, Worldly.
Housing Project 11 by Gaurav & Ritika
City Dwellers experience mundane surroundings devoid of conventional beauty. Looking beyond this façade there exist contrasting and complex aesthetics. Contemporary Urban Construction Sites can form a vast palette for an artist’s inspirations. Beams and pillars create elaborate lines and frameworks. Scaffolding looks delicate yet holds massive concrete blocks together. Colors seem muted seen through a haze of dust. The grey-beige of cement is offset by flashes of yellow on cranes and machinery. Darker hues of blue merge with the cloudy browns of wet concrete and create depth.
The ever changing, under-construction City of Delhi lends to the character of the Spring Summer ’11 collection. The Mood comes from nostalgia & an expected future of cities. A sense of living together combined with idealism and hope creates cohesiveness in this collection. Housing Project 1 is ultimately an extension to our love of architecture.
Resort Nuit by Nalandda Bhandari
Embodying a highly individualistic and hedonistic way of life, Designer presents her latest prêt-couture collection. A collection that lives up to its promise of never ending nights or pure revelry and self-indulgence. Dedicated to the woman who is never silent, never still. Resort Nuit is an expression of her positive attitude, unbridled energy and sheer joie de vivre.Resort Nuit entices her to step out into the night in style – accessorized to the hilt or simply worn to exude a subtle sensuousness – it is all up to her to set the mood, to suit the occasion, to celebrate life!
With a passion for clothes and exposure to international trends at an early age, Nalandda Bhandari was charting her career in other areas. Armed with a BA in Psychology, she soon embraced the hospitality industry. But life came a full circle and she knew she would have to return to her passion sooner or later. After the success of her creations at Ensemble (Mumbai) under their in-house label, in a couple of monthsNalandda was soon retailing from the high end boutiques all over the country.
Dressing up the likes of Avanti Birla, Ramona Garware, Gauri Khan, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Pandey, Malaika Arora Khan, Zeba Kohli and other trendsetters, Nalandda finds her inspiration from travel, realism and designers like Mathew Willamson, Alessandrao Dell’Acqua and Blumarine, to name a few.
The label houses a fully functional workshop in Mumbai and the under the expert guidance of Nalandda, the brand currently retails out of Ensemble (Mumbai, Delhi), Amara, Cypress, Zoya, Hot Pink by Marie Helene (Mumbai, Jaipur), Newbury, Fifi and Moose (London), as well as outlets in Greece, Spain, Kuwait, Hong Kong and South Africa among others.
Bubblegum Pop by Divya & Nidhi Gambhir
The Jackson 5, Banana Splits, Josie and the Pussycats…60’s music was something to sing along with. Walnut finds inspiration from this very era’s easy music and attempts to reclaim a little bit of the swinging sixties back to the limelight.
Collection inspired by Bubblegum Pop is just as the name suggests. A genre characterized by catchy melodies, rhythmic tempos and peppy dance beats, the collection embodies this free spirited movement with easy, no-chaotic flows coming in from teasing organzas. The floral abstraction is indeed a tribute to the feel good nature of the sound itself and it finds itself in appliqué, textures and prints.
The uncomplicated chords and simple harmonies symbolizes pure child like happiness that manifests itself in vivid colours of candy pink, yellows, blues and purples. And sheer plays hide and seek with organzas that bring out the sensuality and innocence of the age.
Nostalgia has never been so exciting. Or for that matter, so fashionable!
Women. You can't define them, can't ignore them. Each one of them is uniquely stylish in their own way. Based on this insight, and aimed at complimenting every woman's individuality, Walnut was launched. The concepts and innovations vary from Indo-western to western. The brand runs into prêt, diffusion and couture .The label making a rare attempt to let woman experiment with various concepts and innovations to go bizarre, yet retain her uniqueness.The label has been a part of prestigious Lakme Fashion Week showcasing its collections successfully for consecutively two seasons now.Presently, Walnut is retailing through various multi brand stores in India. To name a few: Chamomile Retail Pvt. Ltd – Mumbai ,White – New Delhi ,Bliss – Mumbai ,Aura – Nagpur ,Soh-Koh - Chandigarh.
Primeval Future by Charu Parashar
This season the diva transcends into a free spirited tribal /nomadic look .there is genesis of color,print ,and flowy silhouettes. It's definitely a strong print season for this summer.my collection has a lot of off-beat pattern mixing.there is a strong use of mismatched print combinations.
All the ensembles have splices and pieced effects ,work of diagonal stripes against vertical horizontal placements.
this look this season stays in cherishing the basic look. Peacock tones and peacock prints are some of the the highlights of the collection. Embellishment is minimal with tonal sequence work ,there is interesting transparent sequence on top of the print.
Fabrics used are cotton vicose, chiffons gorgretes, satins. There is extensive use of accessories with every ensemble.
Madhubani - Reinterpreted by Ashima Singh
For this Spring/ Summer 2011 Collection Ashima returns to her favorite region Madhubani drawing inspiration from the artwork to create a collection with intense romantic streak. She works with the artisans’ traditional skills to create modern and contemporary designs.
Strength is expressed in the collection’s bold color palette with striking combination of black & white hand drawn checks with the bright hand painted madhubani appliqués.
Madhubani Paintings, which were the feature of ASHII’s (Ashii by Ashima) previous collection is given this season a conceptual twist and has been interpreted in a completely different fashion. Strong madhubani figures appliquéd on the monochromatic checks and experimentation with hybrid forms provides seasons one of the most standout looks.
A graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Singh launched her label - Ashii - in 2007.
Ashii represents a brand which epitomizes both, fashion and femininity. Ashii by Ashima Singh was conceptualized to make a sophisticated statement and echo the romantic side of the chic and professional woman. Modern and sophisticated, this label exudes urban, chic, & contemporary styles including assortment of vivid handcrafted techniques. Luxury quotient is achieved through the usage of exotic silks, satins and hand woven fabrics. Styles exhibit an experimental approach, retaining simplicity and elegance. The Collection embodies style and spirit with subtle textures and beautiful cuts.
“It is meant for the chic, contemporary and confident women of today,”
Sunshine by Manish Gupta
SS 2011 brings something fresh and different which goes beyond the unseen. Collection inspired by “SUNSHINE” impeccable artworks in the form of floral, circular and rays like patterns blended with highly technical concepts and radiant colors gives a unique look to every single garment in this collection.
Playing and exploring with surface textures and embroideries using layers of fabrics, twisting of laces and tapes, moulding of velvet yarns and jersey appliqué, anted with thread work on soothing and soft fabrics unfolds the beauty of this collection.
Fusion of western cuts and sophisticated touch of Indian silhouettes embossed with creative and elaborated textural embroideries gives a new dimension to the collection. The color palette of oranges, yellows, peaches, custard, geranium, sand and impressive ivories make one hypnosis into mood of the season.
A fashion prodigy, Manish Gupta envisions anything but his own creative niche. He believes Creativity seeks no boundaries and on this belief he weaves a world of chic and contemporary fashion. After being ranked with the ‘Best Academic Performance’ & ‘Technical Excellence’ tags from Pearl Academy of Fashion, he continued his ongoing escapade towards the top designer spot. The label ‘Manish Gupta’ captured recognition in its debut Fall Winter 08 Collection and still is gaining accolades around the globe. The promising designer was also selected by Westside to showcase exquisite Designer Prêt summer’09 collection at Lakme Fashion Week. Flamboyant & pictorial designs won Manish Gupta a nomination for the best designer Indian wear category in the first edition of Made In India Marie Claire Awards. Largely inspired by sophisticated designs that compliment a modern women’s grandeur has always visualized feminity being synonymous with sophistication, élan and elegance. With a flair to integrate uncommon materials and techniques into inventive patterns & shapes that translate into a globally voguish look.
With an eternal pursuit for fresh and innovative designs, he experiments a lot with creative embroideries, textures and fabrics. In an attempt to create ageless wardrobe his clothes follow a distinct style of flawless tailoring, exquisite embellishments and perfect finish.
Currently retailing from various leading designer stores across the country such as ALSO, AURA, AZA, CARMA, COLLAGE, ENSEMBLE, EVOLUZIONE, KAALI, MAIAH, SAMSAAARA, ZENON AND 85LANDSDOWNE.
21 BURNS by Gaurav Jai Gupta for Akaaro
Spring Summer 2011 is Inspired from Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's ' 2003 emotional drama called “21 GRAMS” which refers to a parapsychological belief about the weight of the human soul. It's used in the film as a metaphor for the fragility of life to which we responded with the textiles and the cuts. The collection visually explores the film in the form of color, scale and mood. Fabrics are all hand-woven using cotton, silk, high twist cotton and stainless steel and are engineered for the specific silhouettes. The collection speaks of a constantly evolving story much like human life. The garments are living entities of this reality; they are about easy transitions from traditional to contemporary. The approach is subtle yet logical and controlled.
Set up in 2007 Akaaro is a highly individual design studio based out of New Delhi. Akaaro has its origin in a Sanskrit word which means the letter “a”. Hand-woven and made in India we produce works which are engineered and cutting edge. Marked by a generic concept of color and material which corresponds to an innate human need to embellish one’s self and surroundings, Akaaro is intent on producing woven classics. Internationally Akaaro debuted at the prestigious Origin: The London craft fair in October 07.Akaaro products now retail from selected galleries, stores and museums across England, Tokyo and New Delhi along with some British websites.
Gaurav who would prefer calling his collections as design projects is man who is highly aware of his environment adopts inspiration from whatever he sees, hears, and feels thus no wonder that his creations have reached a level where the product is able to evoke feelings.
Stories by Sanchita Ajjampur
Anthropomorphic interpretations of eighteenth century decorative schemes and chimerical animal curiosities, mutating on a mesh of fantasy and Flemish mythology
Fabric: ultra fine cotton jersey. Abstracted Macintosh roses and random petals, shredded to floral compositions, exploring sculpted collages, patterned with contemporary West African tribal riches. Fabric: hand printed cotton jersey. Adapting the art of body-wrapping; long sheaths of weightless sheers wound together and twisted mimicking south East Asian drapes Fabric: cotton jersey, fine silk. Vintage lingerie revived into body stockings, with a modern take on primitive Malinese body art encrusted on tropical foliage prints. Fabric: printed tulle. Oddly asymmetric drapes engineer sartorial imperfections to technically advanced volumes; maxi tees with ethnic drape detailing; Boxy silhouettes with controlled volumes.Fabric: cotton viscose jersey. A range of versatile underpinnings to many an outfit, in fine- gauge jerseys. Fabric: ultra fine jersey: Mystical imagery of Moorish exoticism inspires avante garde constructions in hand crafted muslin, juxtaposing traditional skills with burnished metal.Fabric:khadi, paper silk. A whimsical assemblage of materials and colors of the plant world, flattening space and compressing form to collapsible abstraction, with intricate waves of flounces and ruffles adorning hemlines. Fabric: printed silk, paper silk, and chiffon. Fascination for untamed nature is overlaid on a leitmotif of West African cultural heritage with trousseau trim edgings in sumptuous silks. Fabric: hand printed, stretch silk. Naïve Surrealiste stag beetles trapped in luscious gilt labyrinths luxuriated on an array of luscious satins. A new take on relaxed glamour with Jumpsuits ; playsuits with bloomer hip volume, warm up pants with cuffed track bottoms, essential sarouel pants, structured silk skirts and wrap skirts, in fluid silks, accentuated with waist details. Staple shirt dresses and cardigans with belted definition
Colours;Earthy delights from the mystical spice markets of eastern cultures, infusing an opulent essence of turmeric, saffron, peppercorn, cayenne, garlic, cardamom, , Angelica tarragon,mustard,cinnamon cilantro,and poppy; while evening brings a shimmering opaline and iridescent accent into the mix.
The brand “sanchita” was launched in 2005 with the first flagship store at Leela Galleria. The brand gained recognition immediately and now is sold in 38 stores worldwide through showrooms in India, Milan, Paris and Düsseldorf. The brands primary market is womenswear and accessories and has recently expanded its collection to menswear. Sanchita’s collections have graced the catwalks of Lakme Fashion Week (Mumbai), Colombo Fashion Week (Colombo, Sri Lanka) and the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion show (New Delhi). In 2007, she started her ‘sanchita for Villa Moda’ collaboration with Villa Moda Kuwait and Dubai. She has also worked on the project ‘sanchita for I love souk’ for the Al Sabha Art and Design Gallery in collaboration with Sheikh Majed Al Sabah, Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst.
The nomadic essence of the sanchita brand bows to modernity, skillfully fusing fashion and art into eclectic and original clothing concepts on a quest for a rare and natural beauty. The core ideology of the brand is “a modern nomad”. The distinguishing factor of the brand is the conceptual skill and the eclecticism it distils from the fashion-art relationship. Eye for craftsmanship, where decoration is an integral part of the clothing, enables her to design and produce work of timeless expression and an emotional bond. The contrasts of avant-garde and folk, natural vitality with a cosmopolitan feel have brought immediate attention to the brand.
The clothes are remixed and reordered to free the mind and body, the materials chosen for their textural sensuality, the decoration shaped into an eloquent narrative. Entering into a world of collectors and global travelers, a sophisticated nomad whose eye for craftsmanship and recherché quality lead her to choose pieces of timeless expression, interjected with playful and free-flowing elements. For a seductive and fragile yet strong woman who uses her femininity to dress more than her fantasy, desires and beauty, who looks to luxurious fabrics and surface
ICE by Chandrani Siingh Fllora
Crystalline, prism-like, reflective and cooling – the many facets of ice and snow inspire Chandrani Siingh Fllora for her SS 2011 range of women’s prêt. Her annual summer escapes from urban heat to white-capped mountains and frozen lakes have fuelled her imagination.
Her range blends casual with cocktail to create contemporary feminine separates with classic touches without being overtly girly - geometric snowflake patterns form embroidery motifs, a fresh and soothing color palette represents multi-hued light on glacial surfaces, a variety of lightweight fabrics that breathe. Easy to wear pieces which, even when layered, retain a summer feel and embellishments that go easy on the eye.
After a successful debut last season wherein her collection received rave reviews from media and critics alike, Designer is back with her SS 2011 collection.
Trained from Wigan and Leigh Fashion College, She launched her eponymous label “Chandrani Siingh Fllora” in 2006.
Designing for a select group of clientele initially which comprised of the who’s who of Calcutta’s social set and prominent personalities, Chandrani eventually spanned her clientele across the country via prominent multi designer stores from where she retails currently.
Her muse is a woman, who is comfortable in straddling the two different worlds of hi fashion and street chic.
Believing in creating timeless designs, her clothes have an easy appeal, the types that can easily be saved for vintage. Her flawless embroidery sourced from different parts of the country adds the extra punch of uniqueness to her designs. Chandrani works closely and extensively with artisans and master craftsmen.
In a short time Chandrani has been credited as a designer with a keen sense of fabric, flawless finish and remarkable designs. Every piece is crafted to embody a feminine symmetry and a sense of timelessness. The creations offer the wearer luxury and glamour for those evening cocktails, dinner parties or just that night out in the town.
Rehane
The collection sees a departure from colour & excessive detailing. It is modern yet feminine. Fabrics used are silk gauzes , tulle, summer silks. Silhouettes are almost always clinched at the waist. It is more structured meets flowy look.
Colours range from grey to deep aqua to faun. All-in-all a dressy collection that is bound to be a commercial success as the looks are wearable & in-sync with what the modern women wants.
Contemporary Progressive by Gayatri Khanna
Collection inspired from a modern and progressive woman who wants to break free from the clutches of a regressive society. Prints have always been Gayatri's forte and once again she has created a feel of breaking free by using prints that fashion an illusion of the same. The twisted and draped silhouettes in luxurious silk fabrics are chic, contemporary and free flowing suggestive of the theme. The colour palette moves from soft feminine tints to strong earthy tones indicative of a transformation of a naïve, innocent girl to a confident, grounded woman. Embellishments like crystal beading, sheathing and metallic chain embroidery have been used in a way to complement the collection and give a feel of understated glamour true to Gayatri's style!
After graduating from Babson College, Gayatri moved to New York and worked with various garment companies before getting a job at Saks Fifth Avenue as a buyer for designer wear. Her initial experience in New York gave her the confidence of going solo and in May 2000, Gayatri ventured out to incorporate Milaaya Embroideries in the US and India. A range of global couture fashion houses like Lanvin, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Chloe to Prêt collections like Nicole Miller, Anna Sui, etc., get their precise cuts, embroideries and finishes done at Milaaya. Currently, Gayatri manages and operates Milaaya from offices in high fashion capitals; New York, Milan, Paris and Mumbai. Gayatri Khanna is now established fashion house in India for the global market.
At a time when most Indian designers were using fusion designs and Indian wear to create an identity for themselves, Gayatri Khanna launched her European inspired label GAYATRI in Dec 2006, The brand GAYATRI is nurtured with the knowledge of fashion, designer collections, pricing and quality that Gayatri Khanna acquired from the Global fashion houses from her embroidery business. It creates modern, chic, trend setting and practical styles that look fabulous on women of all ages and can be easily adorned by models on the international runway to the real life modern global woman.
To create alluring, urbane, one-of-a kind contemporary styles GAYATRI uses the world as its resource, from villages where local craftsmen weave dreams with magic fingers to fabrics and trends from the big cities of high fashion. Each collection of the brand is based on a theme, inspirations are drawn from nature and in her own way Gayatri tries to connect fashion with global issues to create awareness. The collections such as Our Beautiful Earth – Prevent Global Warming, Jewels of the Forest and Coral Reef are examples of this.
Gayatri’s first ever showcase of her creations gave her an overwhelming response and since then the brand has come a long way with it being stocked by some of the top-notch buyers all over the country as well as internationally, and a flagship store in Mumbai, India. The USP of the brand lies in the prints, fabric and the western use of embroidery. GAYATRI also boasts of a bollywood celebrity clientele like Aishawarya Rai Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, and many more. Owing to its western European look, it has been associated with prestigious international brands like Swiss Guess Watches, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Blender’s Pride, Jean-Claude Biguine ,The Indian Premier League –Cricketing tournament, Portico New York and the award winning play Vagina Monologues.
Just three and a half years into existence, and with these accomplishments under its belt, the brand is working hard to realize its vision of being a leading luxury prêt brand with a global presence.
Paradox by Nandita Basu
Nandita Basu’s Fiama Di Wills collection for Spring/Summer 2011/2012 is titled ‘ Paradox’ .It has been inspired by the contradictions we face in our everyday life and interpreted in terms of color, silhouette, fabric and texture. The look and feel of the collection is very young yet has a sophisticated urban feel. The line is edgy yet minimal.
The collection is a mixture of contrasting elements as there is a juxtaposition of structure with drape.It is a line made up of black, white and grey ensembles.She has used her signature textures like the leather sequins embroidery, 3D wavy cutout texture,punched leather, dori work, applique and pleating but in an understated way. The fabrics used in the collection are georgette, linen, chiffon, silk lycra and chanderi combining with fabrics which are heavier and opaque with those that are lighter and sheer.
Gypsy Masala by Virtues (Ashish,Viral & Vikrant)
is more than an artistic statement. This collection aims to communicate that the beauty of nature is a marvel. The collection incorporates organic fabrics, low impact dyes, and hand block prints. Extensive use of layers and combination of various textures is an essential part of gypsy clothing The vibrant use of colors, airy fabrics, and simplistic silhouettes also truly express our nature inspired theme. The message is to Recycle, Reduce, Re-plant and feel naturally confident and free while living environmentally friendly.
Mustard yellow, indigo blues, crimson red, henna green and especially white is used in various layers to enhance the vibrant gypsy mood. To keep the mood alive we have added lot of accessories especially the bold neck pieces, bangles and bandanas.
In 2003, Ashish & Viral Parikh of Ahmedabad launched their label ‘Virtues’ and at the moment the label is sold at over 21 designer stores across the country and abroad. Viral graduated from NIFT, Gandhinagar in 1999 after an internship at the House of Dior, Paris for John Galliano’s Autumn-Winter Haute Couture Collection’ 98. After the graduation she joined her hands with her husband Ashish, who is a qualified MBA from Australia, to give birth to Studio Virtues, Ahmedabad in Januray 2003. In 2007, Vikrant Mehta joined the team to add more flavour to the label. Virtues offer a range of clothing options for both men and women. Over the years, they have developed a strong presence in Indian Bridal wear, Eco friendly clothing and fusion clothing. Playing around with fabric right from the yarn stage is what makes any design stand out distinctively and that is what they believe is their design credo. To promote and deliver affordable, accessible and personalized clothing to each individual has remained their fascination.
Stores currently retailing Virtues: Ogaan – Delhi & Mumbai,Kimaya – Delhi & Mumbai,Samsaara – Delhi & Mumbai,Cottage Industries Exposition – New Delhi,Ensemble – Delhi,Aza – Mumbai,Fuel – Mumbai,Amara – Mumbai ,Collage – Chennai & Bangalore,Ffolio – Bangalore,Also– Hyderabad,Aura – Nagpur,85 Lansdowne – Kolkata,Artist’s Images – Indore,Araliya – Pune,Zinia – Kuwait,S&S - Kuwait,Al Munged – Kuwait,Sun Motoyama – Tokyo
Own Label Stores: Studio Virtues, Ahmedabad/Inner Spaces, Hyderabad ( starting Sept. 2008)
Fashion Weeks : Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week SS 08; AW 08-09/Miami Fashion Week SS 09
Esteemed Clients :Nita Ambani ,Shalu Jindal ,Anjali Mariwala ,Urvi Piramal ,Namrata Dutt Kumar ,Jayanti Natrajan ,Sathya Saran ,Isha Sharvani ,Sonali & Roopkumar Rathod.
A LOT like US by Rahul Mishra
The most ancient, exotic and loved motifs of our Gods and Goddesses, the famously adorned LOTUS is our theme for this seasons fabrics, as well as our inspiration for the collection.
Finely woven CHANDERI fabrics in Black, Off White, and bright colors, from the looms of central India transform themselves into a very fluid day look of tops, jackets and wraps, along with precision tailoring and detailing.
A romantic look is presented in the form of painstakingly engineered BANDHANI motifs on light weight silk fabrics with a Hombre effect. A collection of ponchos, dresses and drapes with the sheer play of multi colors translate into a look of poetry in motion thanks to the precision craftsmen of Kutch in Gujrat.
This Spring, Rahul Mishra and ‘The Apple Tree’ bring to you, a collection, which bears testimony to our commitment of working with hand weavers, reviving the lost art of craftsmanship and translating these into fashionably wearable garments for the woman of today. Our collection is an engaging journey, blending together construction and craft, and therefore aptly named – A LOT like US!
Not so Serious by Pallavi Mohan
Spring is a start! Spring is youth; fresh & full of life. “Not So Serious”, takes great pleasure to present “A Pocketful of Posies” – it’s latest Spring/Summer Collection as well as its inaugural children’s collection.
This collection is based on the explosion of life and color that is spring. Hues that are vibrant yet not grating, the collection tiptoes through soft ecru into moody blues; brilliant yellow followed by muted khaki and finally into ultra feminine pinks peaches and rose.
A fresh twist to the late Victorian era, the collection includes Not So Serious’ signature full-on maxi dress, with waterfall ruffle lace sleeves adorned by the trademark crystal ladybug brooch. Other silhouettes include peasant tops, tier dresses, baby doll tops and lots and lots of whimsy. Sheer, sexy chiffon dresses are great to beat the heat and look fabulous at the same time. And denim dresses and hot pants for those rough and tumble carefree days.
The collection presents the evolution of lace, more abstract and amorphous. 3D floral motifs are interspersed with delicate metal chains. The design is looser, less structured and a combination of evening and day wear. It’s about breaking down boundaries and freeing one-self. The collection also features eclectic ladybug handbags developed in conjunction with Rocio, UK.
As Emily Dickinson once said, “A little madness in the spring, Is wholesome even for the King” and so Not So Serious’ Spring/Summer 2011 Collection is chic, yet easy… perfect for not having to think too much and having lots and lots of fun. So enjoy the spirit of spring, the spirit of Not So Serious.
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Not So Serious has collaborated with the Self Employed Women’s Association to develop part of the hand embroideries for this collection. A part of the proceeds from these items will be used to benefit these rural women.
Pallavi studied art at the Camberwell College of Art & Design, London. After which she pursued a degree in Textile Design from the Chelsea College of Art & Design. The creative force behind Magnolia Martinique, Pallavi works with numerous international labels such as Roberto Cavalli, Jean Paul Gaultier, Costume International, Miss Sixty, Pinko, Guess Jeans, Paul & Jo, Valentino Group and John Galliano. This experience gives her an international design sensibility and a keen understanding about the demands and functioning of the industry at a global stage.
In 2007, Pallavi launched her private label “NOT SO SERIOUS”, a brand that endeavors to amalgamate western sensibilities with Indian ethos. The brand’s retail footprints have increased and in India, “NOT SO SERIOUS” is retailed from leading boutiques such as Carma, Ensemble, Aza, Ogaan, Fuel, Mogra & Evoluzuionne. The label is also stocked by boutiques abroad in France, Greece, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Pallavi, who is three seasons old at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), has been credited as a designer with an outstanding sense of fabric, flawless finish and inspiring originality. Her AW’09 collection was also selected by FDCI for the India Show in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Designer has already set a benchmark in the fashion world with her indigenous skills not only in India but across the globe. The Designer’s SS’10 collection was exhibited at Pure, London followed by Prêt a Porter, Paris in September 2009. This year Pallavi became the only Indian Designer to present her collection at Atmosphere in Paris, the biggest and most prestigious fashion trade event across the globe. Besides this, she has been regular at international fashion weeks including the Paris Fashion Week, two seasons at the London Fashion Week and her first stint this year at the Barcelona Fashion Week, where she received rave reviews for her collections.
“NOT SO SERIOUS” believes in making fashion easy yet edgy, affordable yet stylish and fun!!!
Tale of Love by Nimirta Lalwani
Romance. The kind that takes your breath away. The kind that sweeps you off your feet. Spring Summer 2011
brings with it such a tale of love.
The collection is made up of floating chiffons, glitzy summer cocktail wear and floor sweeping gowns. There is play
with transparency and chiffons have been knotted, crushed and pleated to give the pieces texture but still keep them light and sensual. Silhouettes are soft with dropped waistlines, tiered uneven hemlines and draped pieces.
With a fresh colour pallette of whites, beiges, lilacs, aubergines and moss greens and haphazourdly appliqued lace the collection tilts towards fantasy and fairy tale like femininity. Fabrics: chiffons, satins and tulle.
