The 19th edition of the Gen Next stars opened Day One at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 with a show presented by INIFD. Mentored by ace couturier Anita Dongre, the six designers who will rock the fashion business in future, showed collections that were a fabulous mix of creativity, style, innovations and trend setting directions.
ALAN ALEXANDER KALEEKAL – A NEW FASHION DIMENSION
Creating an impact on the ramp was a very interesting collection that illustrated how a child would reinterpret an adult wardrobe. So Alan Alexander Kaleekal, a graduate from Studio Bereot Paris for his label ‘Kaleekal’ gave an innovative dimension to fashion and clothing. Moving away from specific norms of fashion and categories, Alan’s line was an eye-catching offering of stylish clothes.
Using a colour story of ecru and black, there were sheer/solid tie-up dress, cotton boxy tunic, cut-away overall with cropped top and a rear back tie-up tunic with shorts. The clever mix of solids and sheers was beautifully blended into the creations to give an almost ethereal, oriental yet comfortable feel to the garments. Intricate construction and some tricky tie-ups added to the overall dramatic appeal of the line.
ANKIT CARPENTER – TIMELESS CLEAN CONSTRUCTION
Giving feminine and classic touches to his creations for his label ‘Greusha’, Ankit Carpenter’s collection focused on timeless clean construction and silhouettes. Inspired by the cactus, the outfits exuded sophisticated elegance, luxury and comfort, yet had a wild streak and beauty that will appeal to women who adore understated elegance.
Bright yellow was the opening for a will-powered gathered dress followed by yellow and white jumpsuit, one-shoulder origami inspired mini and the acid green georgette dress.
The white long-sleeved shirt that was teamed with a yellow ‘Skort’ was a great addition, a simple pant suit was a classic and the final acid green tonal embroidered gown was the glamorous end to the show. What were truly eye-catching were the half masks and black exotic net head gear that gave the collection an avant garde feel.
KANIKA GOYAL – PROVOCATIVE MINIMALISM
Inspired by the stillness of the night and the wild instincts that the time evokes, Kanika Goyal’s collection called “Creatures of the Night” had a unique identity, which had a blend of provocative minimalism. A graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi and Fashion Styling at University of Arts London; Kanika’s collection had contrasts that managed to come together seamlessly.
Using glass nylon, polyester satin, denim, Lycra, lamb leather and cow hide in shades of white, beige as well as lilac, the designer showed a line that had a clever mix of the textures. The twisted collar shirt for men, the panelled denim jumpsuit for the ladies, foiled leather top with thigh-high slit sheer pencil skirt and the imaginative use of shattered glass print gave the collection an innovative touch.
MANISH BANSAL – NEW AGE MEN’S WEAR
With a Masters in Fashion Design Technology in menswear it was but natural that Manish Bansal revealed the finer points of men’s clothes. Inspired by the suit of cards as well as the one worn by the corporate head honcho, Manish gave the term ‘suits’ a new dimension. His collection depicted suits that are attached to the word ‘gamble’. Blending past and present fashion statements, Manish offered the New Age Male umpteen stylish options.
Using felting as an appliqué for the men’s wear with an off-white and grey story, the designer showed knit kurta with kangaroo pockets, shorts, Bermudas with racer back tank, shirts with a single embellished sleeve sporting the playing card casino print, zippered blouson and thigh-long coat with discreet prints. The final double breasted jacket over a pleated skirt with the casino print was Manish’s way of giving men’s wear an innovative yet slightly feminine touch.
PRIYANKA ELLA LORENA LAMA – CONSTRAINED IMPERFECTIONS
Graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology Bengaluru, Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama presented an inspired collection from the mythical ‘Utopia’. Her label P.E.L.L.A. attempts at presenting clothes that are imaginative, inspired and innovative on all fronts. Her ensembles had that unconventional quality that is aimed to create aesthetics via constrained imperfections but with a restrained design story.
Presenting a collection with natural fabrics that was almost meditative in nature, inspired by the opening of the chakras, the silks and jacquards in a white story had simple organic shapes that flowed around the body. Draped Zen like kimonos, kaftans with long trails, wrap-around oriental creation with looped back, ballooning sleeves, dress with rouched draped cover, rolled collar cloak and the final batwing long kaftan, created magic on the ramp.
SALITA NANDA – ARTY FASHION
Inspired by Picasso’s cubist painting ‘Les Demoiselles D’vignon’ Salita Nanda’s “Demoiselles” collection was designed for the young stylish woman. Salita worked with digital prints and a series of 3D printed fabrics that highlighted the artistic angle of the collection with a touch of pop.
A graduate in Fashion Business from London College of Fashion University of the Arts and a diploma holder in Fashion Design from Milan Fashion Campus; Salita creatively brought out the African undertones in Picasso’s painting with prints and symbols that portrayed love, beauty and strength.
Off-white was the base of the collection for the artistic prints, which appeared on jumpsuit, cropped top, skirt, an unusual boxy rectangular tube over skirt, wrap around shorts, appliquéd printed maxi and a striking off-shoulder cropped top with a lampshade shaped skirt.
The final ribbed transparent white skirt with printed cape over jumpsuit completed the very dramatic and colourful collection.
