Kolkatta Fashion Week II, Day 2 - Designers

Kallol Dutta - KFW II, Day 2

Time: 3pm at MSA // (Sundarbans)

Designer from the early days at NIFT, Kallol Datta asserted his stamp of individuality in every element of his design process and learning. After his graduation from NIFT in 2004, where he did not win any awards, Dutta wanted to evaluate himself on a global level, where the competition would be more intense, and the exposure would be tremendous. At Central Saint Martin’s, London, he honed his skill of interpreting shapes – which he realized to be his biggest strength – and soaked in the multicultural design influences owing to the multi – ethnic student community. Kallol Datta 1955 was launched in October ’08.

Collection
Kallol, the edgiest designer of Kolkata, has tweaked his aesthetics to suit the city. For a viewer friendly collection, he has revisited previous collections and recycled his favourite patterns and prints. There is a ramp return for his first ever croqui print to the latest dress-form print.

Kaushik & Pallob - KFW II, Day 2
Time: 4:30 pm at MSA / (Pala)

Collection
The pair is putting forward their heavily embroidered bridalwear, salwar suits and tunics. Natural fabrics in green and rust are what they have used. Add some kantha and accessories in the form of brocade bags.

Abhishek Byas - KFW II, Day 2
Time: 4:30 pm at MSA / (Pala)

The knack of interpreting the independent thinking and the sensible observation into aesthetical and practical piece of work comprises the idea of label "Abhishek Byas". Completing study of fashion design from NIFT Kolkata in year 2003, the journey moved on with bringing the label "Abhishek Byas" in year 2007 and debut collection at LIFW in 2008 titled "Addicted Profession". This collection was a contemplation of his style. It took another eight months in building brand recognition and promotion planning to facilitate production in full swing. Creative muse of the label has always been to facilitate a sensible outcome of believe in aesthetic and the skin deep beauty enchanted by the thrill of diversification scattered all around.

Collection
"The beginning is what needs an end, but end is something we never desire."
Collection (NATYOSALA) is mimic to visible world, which captures a wide repertoire of impressions, and keep walking so not to be lost. Thousand miles crossed thousands ahead. Hold from being shattered, to keep on an unending journey. Always want an end but at the same time this is what that keeps us alive.

Bibi Rusell - KFW II, Day 2

Time: 6 pm at MSA // (Sundarbans)

When it comes to the world of fashion, few can boast of more expertise than Bibi Russel. A designer and former international model from Bangladesh , she has worked for some of the best labels in the world, such as Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo and Giorgio Armani. She is a designer who has truly experience the entire spectrum of the industry, having been the face of, as well as the brains behind many collections. In 1994, she began her own label, Bibi productions, fusing indigenous Bengali elements into her line. What was even more amazing about this move was that Bibi Productions now employs more than 35000 weavers in rural Bangladesh. Her laurels also stretch beyond the world of fashion, with Asiaweek magazine highlighting her as ‘one of the 20 people to watch in the new millennium’.

Collection
The Bangladeshi designer who had kickstarted KFW Season One has come back again with Magical Threads. The collection is made up of Saris, tie-and-dye and Rickshaw Art.

Amita Chittora - KFW II, Day 2

Time: 7:30 pm at MSA / (Pala)

A strong passion for designing led Amita to graduate from NIFD School of Fashion - Mumbai, affiliated to the Annamalai University- Chennai in 2006. Her inclination towards all things creative and a keen interest towards fashion and styling made Amita take it up as a profession. The journey through these 3 years have even helped her procure an insight into the Bollywood industry under her mentors Pooja and Theia (Dress Circle), working as an assistant designer on movies; EMI, Love Story 2050, Singh is King, Jai Veeru, Kissan, Kajrare and TV Commercials; Tata Sky, Bose Sound System, Chevrolet, Acer Laptop, Polo mint, Tropicana Juice, Oyo Kids Fashion wear, Ambipure car perfume, Fanta and also Styling for Pantaloons New Collection 2008 and lots more, has broadened her vision on being unique and exploring her creative side. The year 2008 marked a new beginning in Amita’s career as she finally achieved her long term goal of launching her own label, "Amita C", the sole representative of what she stands for as a Fashion Designer. Her work has been appreciated positively and she has been able to spread her ways to Pune, Mumbai & Kolkata.

Collection
For Amita fashion is all about altering yourself differently and being comfortable with yourself and enjoy what you are wearing. All the collection that she has perjured till date is very unique, dazzling, blendy, kerby and lainy. All of her collections have touched nature and they have a sile touch that makes them shelle. Her collection though being so neologism has a very humble and feminine appeal and this is what makes them special. Amita personally loves colours, nature and love to dress herself uniquely and differently. So in a way her collection caters to her own personality. She believes in broadcasting fashion in a way that it broadens the perspective of fashion. And that’s why in the upcoming KFW 2009, she is presenting her new collection OBELE’ which she has designed keeping in mind the beautiful colours of summer and spring.

Indira Baikerikar - KFW II, Day 2

Time: 7:30 pm at MSA / (Pala)

Having born and spend her formative years in Assam, designer Indira Ghosh Baikerikar, has woven and blended the colours of the natural abundance. For Indira dressing up her clients is not occasional but a daily celebration.
Her collection has a strong influence of the European market because of her clients she caters to.

Collection
The ensemble is a reminder of pristine river banks of Brahmaputra, each piece being simple and elegant and very stylish.The fabrics are all naturally woven and hand crafted from the artisans of Shantinikatan, and hand painted by herself too. The embellishments are very delicate and hand crafted from the village folk of west Bengal.
Lets come and celebrate the spring summer collection by Vedaant body drapes and enter into the world of style, chic, and sophistication by Indira Ghosh Baikerikar in the Kolkata Fashion Week – Season II.

Dev r Nil - KFW II, Day 2

Time: 9pm at MSA // (Sundarbans)

Known to play with beautiful textiles, subtle surface texturing and classic cuts, this duo comprises the original Boys of Bengal, carrying Indian fashion forward. Famously and boldly defying the norms of fashion in India, they are recognizable for having an acute eye for detail and an unusual color palette and cut. They like to call this technique ‘The wardrobe from the East’.

Collection
The designer duo is showing Frozen, a look that is "festive yet has a relaxed, resort feel". It is not exactly bridal but veers towards a trousseau collection. Drapery, the flavour of the season, will dominate their line. Their colours include jewel tones like ruby red, emerald green and some shades of gold and pearl. There is a lot of tone-on-tone textures that are almost floating on soft silk net, cotton and georgette.

Wendell Rodricks KFW II, Day 1.
Time: 9:00pm at MSA / (Pala)

Designer Wendell Rodricks

Wendell Rodricks began his career in fashion after a successful tenure in hotel management. Trained in Los Angeles and Paris, he returned to India in 1988. After a brief span of two years, designing and styling for reputed companies such as Garden Vareli, cosmetic giant Lakme and diamond corporate De Beers, Wendell Rodricks established his own label in 1990. The Wendell Rodricks signature style is unique in India, blending ancient Indian geometry with a relaxed Goan attitude. Using natural Indian fabrics, cut in a linear line, the silhouette is sheer, layered, draped and fluid. Emphasis is on concrete themes, experimental colour combinations, exotic fibre weaves, structural simplicity based on geometric Indian shapes and hand-painted details. The garments are worn by a growing clientele from all walks of life who share a similar minimal, spiritual aesthetic.

Collection - The Earth Goddess
Wendell Rodricks brings to Kolkata the essence of eco clothes that he pioneered in India since 1991. Seven years ago an NGO began working with the tribals who lived on the foothills of the Amboli Ghats bordering Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Using the forest tress for firewood, the tribals unconsciously deforested the area. The animals vanished with the greenery. The wood smoke resulted in eye and asthmatic problems for the tribals. To halt the destruction, the NGO began to distribute free gas for cooking and encouraged the villagers to plant saplings that could be harvested for natural dyes. One third of the leaves and bark of the shrubs and trees are harvested thrice a year to create natural dyes. After a seven year effort, we are ecstatic at the results. The tribals have no eye or breathing
problems. The forest is back. As are the wild animals who returned to the foliage cover.

The dyes vats that are normally toxic (for synthetic dyes) are fertiliser rich and help regenerate the soil at our field near the dyeing unit. Farmers who were earlier skeptical at the vat contents with its coloured mix now request the slush for their fields. Some 34 villages are in queue to request the same dyeing programme for their villages. By wearing these clothes you are helping realise the dreams of the simple tribals and providing them with a livelihood. Towards this end the garments are priced at an affordable range. The designer cotton garments retail at under 1,700 rupees.

In the collection using coarse handspun cotton, viscose jersey and silk, garments are treated to the colours of nature Guava leaf, pomegranate, rice konji, local plants and indigo create a palette that is one with Mother Nature. The dyes are machine washable, UV light resistant and anti bacterial. All these qualities result in clothes that feel completely natural on the skin. Using referrals of old Indian garment shapes, a Goan resort flavour and his signature minimalist style, India's Guru of Minimalism creates styles and silhouettes that worship the Earth Goddess. In subdued hues of olive, dark green ,pale grey, dusty earth, khaki and chalk white, the collection will be available at Westside stores nationwide in select outlets from end September.

Become a part of this Eco Goa Collection and help become a part of the new revolution to restore the earth to its natural glory as a tribute to the Earth Goddess.

Rocky S Kolkatta Fashion Week II Day 1

Rocky S Kolkatta Fashion Week II Day 1

Show Stopper Virender Sehwag

Designer Rocky S

Designer
As a college student he studied commerce, however he always had an inclination towards a more creative & artistic field. After formal training to the J.D. Institute of Fashion Designing, Rocky got a job as a designer at departmental store, ROOPAM. After gaining the experience and the technical expertise, he decided to enter the film industry.

Akshay was Rocky's launch pad in BOLLYWOOD. Soon I started getting several inquiries to design costumes for actresses. To keep up with his orders he set up a small-scale manufacturing unit. Keeping all interests in mind he took up a few artists & interacted with the likes of Raveena Tondon, Shilpa Shetty, Rekha, Manisha Koirala, and Sridevi. In very short time he has managed to create waves in the fashion industry by designing big names like Hrithik Roshan, Aftaab Shivdasani, Amisha Patel, Diya Mirza, Esha Deol, Bipasha Basu.

He has opened his flagship store retailing exclusive ladies & men designer wear, located at Juhu named ROCKY-S. This Brand label selling prêt was greatly appreciated.

Collection
The Bollywood designer and star stylist is showing bridal wear. Saris, lehngas, sherwanis, churidar-kurtas in linen brocade, jacquard, georgette and plenty of bling is enhanced by copper and gold lace embellishments. Colours are in ivory, pistachio, onion pink, vintage grey, fuchsia pink, red, electric blue and emerald green.

Zubair Kirmani Kolkatta Fashion Week II, Day 1

Zubair Kirmani Kolkatta Fashion Week II, Day 1

Showstoppers: Ustad Amzaad Ali Khan, Aman Ali Bangash & Ayan Ali Bangash

Designer ZUBAIR KIRMANI
Born and brought up in the divine Valley of Kashmir, Zubair he grew up under shade of Chinar trees. He tried to meddle with science, engineering but none was able to sustain his creative instincts, and finally he pursued fashion. Quintessential (BOUN) Chinar had always inspired him as it has fuelled lot of Poetic imagination, the name BOUNIPUN (chinar leaf) with its ever changing colors had left an indelible impression on him way back in 90’s and was finally adopted in 2005 when the label “BOUNIPUN by ZUBAIR KIRMANI” was launched. The brand primarily focuses & has conceived an inimitable signature style that fuses together both contemporary minimalism and classic heritage from his roots. The importance of crafted detailing is rediscovered in his avant-garde collection, which keeps improving upon rather than making rash changes every season. The Brand’s forte lies in sophisticated women’s western line and men’s fashion formals.
Collection

After a successful first season with KFW, Zubair Kirmani is back in Kolkata with menswear and womenswear in his simplistic style. Jackets for men promise to have interesting textures and expect to see bandhgalas and also shorts and T-shirts on the ramp! For her, there will be dresses, skirts, tops and shorts.

Leena Taneja's The Audrey Hepburn Classic - Kolkatta Fashion Week II Day 1

"‘the Audrey Hepburn Classic" by Leena Taneja - Kolkatta Fashion Week II Day 1, Time: 4:30 pm at MSA // (Sundarbans)
Showstopper Paoli Dam


Designer LEENA TANEJA

Designer - A graduate of Loreto College, Kolkata, Leena had her formal training in fashion design from Miss Myers Institute of Fashion Designing; Kolkata; South Delhi Polytechnic, New Delhi and also a Diploma course from NIFT Kolkata.

She launched her label LENAZ and kept creating garments for the south-east Asian market, never looking to retail from India, except creating garments for few of her social and celebrity friends.

Literally forced by her friends, she opened her design studio in 2005 and ventured into retailing. Today her collection can be found at some of the most exclusive outlets of Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Milan and New York.

She has just opened her first flagship store “Leena Taneja” at the 74 Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata to much critical acclaim and success.

Collection
Leena has yet again come along with a new line of Indo Western and Western Wears. The collection, aptly named as ‘the Audrey Hepburn Classic Collection’ gives the gentle beauty along with boldness synonymous with the late petite actress.

She is showcased her signature tunics, beautifully embroidered and styled on natural fabrics like cotton, silk, georgettes and chiffons. As always, the colour theme is metallic with Swarovski, sequins, metals, Zardozi and finest embroideries. The look is ornate, rich and glamorous with a dramatic and outstanding feel of style. Sensual delicate muslins, sombre and finely embroidered crochet and exuberant satin complement the essence of this collection.

The tunics can be worn both as Indo and Western Wears. Leena is also presents her new collection of Kaftans and Long dresses.

This is her tribute to the women who always want to be known for their bold, beautiful and sexy desire. Women, who are assertive, self-assured and independent and enjoy life to the fullest.

RITU KUMAR - Designer In Retrospect - Day 1@KFWII

RITU KUMAR - Designer In Retrospect - Day 1, Kolkatta Fashion Week II Time: 3:00pm at MSA / (Pala)
Showstopper Giselle Monterio

Designer RITU KUMAR
Designer In Retrospect, when the I opened the door or as the case was, the first rolling shutter of India's first ever boutique in Delhi 1967, followed by a small store in Kolkata, little did we realize that the country’s first boutique would go on to become the nations first brand, The Ritu Kumar label in the past 40 years has grown today to have a pan India presence and a deep routed popularity which crosses age groups and fashion swings. With a deep routed conviction of the indigenous nature of fashion in India and equally importantly a feel for the modern contemporary and young life styles, we have reinvented our work and taken inspiration from the vast land that is India to also create a state- of the art, hip and happening collection called RITU KUMAR LABEL which is high on the popularity charts with the younger generation and growing as fast as the country’s younger aspirational professional.

MOVING AHEAD IN THE 21ST CENTURY
The House of Ritu Kumar now has a professional management. The ongoing effort of modernizing and expanding the traditional collection to the Ritu Kumar Label line, and developing perfumes, home furnishings and accessories has being the brain child of Ritu Kumar's son Amrish Kumar, who is redefining the look and feel of the Design House.
Ritu Kumar today has both a national and international presence, with stores in Karachi and Sri Lanka
Collection

The Ritu Kumar Show at the Kolkata Fashion Week opens with a collection of black and gold. These intricately worked garments give the feel of what could be described as India's version of minimal dressing. The line is worked with dhapka, mukaish and a range of metallic embellishments. The silhouettes are equally varied and portray the hugely skilled craftsmanship and the designer’s repertoire in evening gowns, chogas, long tunics, kutchi gathered coats worn over divided loose pants to give a kaleidoscope of images.

\The line is followed by a white and silver collection. The high point of the line is the peshwas cut from a very fine khadi in off white, woven in a long forgotten village in Bengal. This is embellished with gota and silver trims to make up a study in aesthetics. The line is accessorized with flowers to give the exotic feel of the India, of nights with the smell of jasmine, raat ki rani, and motia giving the feel of the Indian summer. The marble like collection, show cases gowns replete with diamond and Zardozi work, the gossamer white on white chikan, the look of the dreamy jaamdaani from the Daccai region. The line is both elegant and romantic in its classism.

The surprise element of the show interprets the Indian aesthetic but this time in coats, trench and bomber jackets, all trimmed with leather and worn with tights and boots. The coats are worn over painted t-shirts in vegetable colours which are reminiscent of old masters. The designer Ritu Kumar has put a few of her paintings on the silk that constructs these coats. The images range from Rajasthan to the painted kalamkaris of the Coromandel coast.

A young trendy collection which is very modern couture. A fresh and innovative departure from what is expected from the House of Ritu Kumar-- but yet manages to bring to the fore, her deftness in interpreting the complex textile tradition of the country into a modern idiom which transcends international boundaries. What really surprises is the amalgamation of some of these coats with satin saris with their pallus draped as long scarves. A very interesting interpretation of the six yard wonder.

The last half of the collection begins with a soft pastel line -- the peshwaz and lehengas are pure classics in a genre which is vintage Ritu Kumar with its use of subtle colours, intricate embellishments, dull gold and metallic threads, interspersed with a line of antique looking textiles which drape, which enhance and produce the most romantic imagery of a yesteryear of royalty with their underplayed and sophisticated ornamentation. The colours are something that India’s ramp has rarely seen which add to the gossamer effect and creates a feel of what was arguably the most important textile country of the world. India. The designer's revival work is to the fore with its intricacy and sensitivity -- a collection which would not date over generations and still brings a sense of pride to India’s couture design and fashion. This splash of exahuberence concludes the show which is bold in its inception, innovative in its usage of traditional idioms and moves the indigenous Indian fashion into realms that have not been seen on the ramp before.

This vintage line then crescendo with a slow interpretation of the folk and colourful. The stream consists of peshwaz painstakingly printed in the hand block areas of sanganer, gararas and khara dupattas from Aadh and Hyderabad, the home of Nizams. Lehengas from Rajasthan with colourful gota and masher accessories.

Kolkatta Fashion Week

Dev R Nil with Models for Kolkatta Fashion Week

Suneet Varma & Judith Leiber - Fall-Winter Collection

Suneet Varma
Presents
La Belle Epoque
In association with Jaeger-LeCoultre
&
Co-Hosted by DLF Emporio

Suneet Varma showcased his Fall-Winter Collection on a glittering evening that was attended by the creme de la creme of Delhi. The Designer fraternity came in full swing and was represented by Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI, designers JJ Vallaya, Ravi Bajaj, Shantanu and Nikhil with wives Rima and Vidushi, Varun Bahl, Puja Nayyar, Siddarth Tytler, Prashant Verma, Anupama Dayal, Nandita Basu, Vijay Arora, Leena Singh, Gauri and Nainika, Rahul Jain, Reynu Tandon.

Some of the other guests present on the occasion were Sushma Seth, DJ Aqeel, Sangeeta and Madan Assomull of Marigold Group, Peter Kroshnabl of BMW, Kalyani Chawla, Shelly and Sanjeev Batra, jewellery designer Mamta Upadhyay, artist Hemi Bawa, Sanjay Sharma with wife Sheena, Country Head, Swarovski, model Fleur Xavier, Latika Khneja, Tanisha Mohan, Cheena Vij, Gunjita Dhawan, Rohit Rajpal, restaurateur A.D. Singh amongst others.

The vision of one on the most beautiful periods in the history of fashion, literally translated on the ramp, by Suneet Varma marked the couture presentation, with La Belle Epoque. Literally translated, ‘the beautiful era’, from French Fashion history, during the period marking the years 1890 to 1914, this was also the beginning of the yearly fashion cycle whereby people started to follow trends, silhouettes and colours on a seasonal basis. The vision of this era inspired Suneet Varma, also an ardent student of fashion history during a visit to the Louvre, Paris during summertime. Inspired by the glamour and history of this age, Suneet felt a moment of epiphany when he imagined a beautiful woman, dressed in a rendition of the era, walking down a runway. Recreating this period, he says, "It was an Èpoque of beautiful clothes and the peak of luxury living."

The Collection itself captures in dramatic sweeps the aesthetic highlights of those years of a languid and leisurely life.Rich dark velvets in jewel tones like teal, maroon, emerald and black are created in tone on tone applique embroidery with a hint of copper lame....braided belts and embroidered stockings worn with empire line dresses. The long slender tunics with sheer sleeves with cutwork embroidery are complemented by generous skirts. The silhouettes of the era come alive with Bussles like skirts, leg of mutton sleeves with short bolero jackets with wide pants in beige and ivory net; all worn with an embroidered belt and structured jackets. The beige and red collection has a muted shine and sparkles nostalgic of a bygone era. These are highlighted with gold and silver lace, and generous sprinkle of CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements. Drama comes with the long sheer coats with scalloped hemlines and draped bodies. Also included are the short and long capes worn with tunics and trousers. The saris come in ethereal apparitions marked by placement embroidery in all over lace or embroidered georgettes, sometimes worked over with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements. The entire collection has been accessorized with masterful detail. Lavish trims such as crystal flowers, feathers embellished with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements and bejeweled brooches are used as headgear in a close crop. The perky velvet skull caps with three dimensional metallic embroidery complemented by feathers in muted colours, sitting pretty on perfectly groomed 1910 inspired hairdos. †In this couture show, Suneet pays tribute to an era, of great significance to fashion marking the historic beginning and bringing it full circle into the contemporary times.


About DLF Emporio
DLF Emporio is among the most luxurious shopping destinations in Asia. Co-Hosting the show, DLF Emporio lives up to its promise of being the centre for fashion and luxury, always hosting the best luxury and fashion events in the city.
For the first time in India, one can enjoy the pleasure of viewing the creations of †185 of the finest luxury brands in the world. With over 74 international labels and 111 Indian designers, there is no place in the world that can offer you the unique variety you will find at DLF Emporio. From Jewellery and Watches, the largest collection of International Menswear, Women’s Designer Fashion, both ethnic and international, Bags and Accessories to Home and Lifestyle products, the range is breathtaking.

About JAEGER-LeCOULTRE: Since 1833, the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre has been at the forefront of fine Swiss watchmaking. Located in the VallÈe de Joux, the cradle of high-watchmaking, Jaeger-LeCoultre has nurtured a culture of inventors who have taken the family business of founder Antoine LeCoultre to international recognition over its 175-year history.† Featuring an unparalleled number of skills and crafts under a single roof, Jaeger-LeCoultre continues to produce timepieces that are innovative, elegant and refined. From the creation of the world's smallest mechanical movement, to the legendary swivel-case Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre is a rare manufacture with a vision and passion for the measurement of time.

"We are delighted to be associated with the Suneet Varma’s fashion show whose stunning and celebrated designs are perfect amalgamation of opulence and elegance, which is what we at THE GRAND believe and represent"says Ms. Harinder Singh- General Manager, The Grand.