Pune Fashion Week 2016
I was invited by Roposo to attend the sixth edition of the prestigious Pune Fashion Week, presented by Bvlgari, as one of their official bloggers. Needless to say, I accepted and had a spectacular time there. The 2 day event began on the 24th of September at the Westin Hotel with the "Luxe Expo", that boasted signature pieces curated by renowned brands such as Ducati, Ethos, Polaris, Daljit Auto Design, BMW, Beachcomber Hotel, Supremo Chair and Planter Broucher, Tea Zahn, TheVoyage, Vanraj and Audi Pune, amongst others.
Day 1
Kick-starting the evening were designers Shikha Kothari, Purva Pardeshi and Hina Madhumal who presented their capsule collections together. 1997 Design by Shikha Kothari showcased their Fall 2019 collction "Siddha" that featured hand-embroidery, hand-painting, origami, applique and patchwork with actress Rutuja Shinde as showstopper.
Purva Pardeshi's label Red unveiled her collection "The Urban Warrior" depicting strong warrior-like armour adorned by Ravana. The collection used opulent fabrics like raw silk, organza and banarasi brocade which encompass the myriad aspects of India's colossal heritage. Structured outlines with defined cuts and straight lines marked the silhouettes of the clothes designed using vibrant hues of yellow, green. pink, navy blue and the brands signature color - red. Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon graced the ramp as the showstopper.
Hina Madhumal's collection celebrated the grace and elegance of a woman with a cocktail and wedding collection. Mrs. India Globe Elakshi Morey Gupta was the showstopper for the designer.
Next, designer Sangeeta Sharma and designer Kanchan Kulkarni showcased their capsule collection on the upcoming bridal and festive season.
Sangeeta Sharma's bridal collection "Forget Me Not" inspired from Illium commonly known as the flower Lilly consisted largely of yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. The motifs were inspired by the Lilly and its leaves and were made of thread work along with dabka and chain stitches. Actress Adah Sharma walked the ramp as showstopper for the designer.
Kara by Kanchan Kulkarni showcased their 2016 festive collection titled "All That Glitters" which was a tribute to its Indian roots while still staying true to western silhouettes. Silks mixed with tulle and lace fused with shimmer and beads dominated the collection, with a color palette of mainly white, gold and black. Actress Sarah Jane Dias looked gorgeous in black as the showstopper.
The next show was a glittering affair with designer Nitya Bajaj and her capsule collection "Ritz" and designer Sharad Raghav and his collection "The Pink Mosque". Ostentatious, luxurious, regal and truly elegant, Ritz by Nitya Bajaj portrayed workmanship of Indian craftsmen combined with western silhouettes, illuminating glamour and sheer brilliance. With rich pearls, Swarovski crystals, delicate lace and beadwork on rich Indian silks, the collection had it all! Bollywood actress Bruna Abdullah looked resplendent as Nitya's showstopper. Sharad Raghav's collection showcased Islamic prints with riots of color with Amit Batla as the showstopper.
Veteran designer Ashok Maaney unveiled his collection "Serenity" with drapes of six yards of pure fabrics like silk, crepes, georgettes and chiffon embellished with zari borders, woven by the few remaining heritage weavers of Varanasi, who even to this day hand-weave zari borders and sarees made of pure silver threads polished in gold. The vibrant flavor and strong interplay of techniques enhanced the life and richness of the weaves. The men's line was constructed with chanderi cotton with embellishments featuring exquisite Aachkans and Aangharakhaas. Actress Pooja Chopra walked the ramp as showstopper.
The most spectacular show of the day ,"Pura Vida", for the NGO Smile Foundation, was put together by designer Priya Kataria Puri for the very noble cause of supporting Girl Child Education. The collection was the epitome of effortless style and elegance with kaftans, off and cold shoulder cuts, jumpsuits, palazzos and rompers in pure Italian silk with warm earthy shades of burgundy, yellow, red, black and olive. Chantilly lace, mirror and gold sequins lace and antique gold leaf embellishments, added an enchanting touch. Ideal for the festive season, the collection offers the opportunity to mix and match and play around with the ensemble. Actress Puja Gupta walked the ramp as showstopper in support of Girl Child Education for Smile Foundation.
Day 2
Day two of Pune Fashion Week witnessed a blend of glitz and glamour as the evening unfurled marvelous collections by designers Devaki, Anj by Anjoo, Bibi Russell and a make-up show by Zara. Pune’s annual rendezvous with fashion came to a glorious end with couturier Nivedita Saboo showcasing her new collection“Circa 2016”.
Taking the style quotient of the city a notch higher, couturier Nivedita Saboo played with a myriad of glistening colours, varied heritage techniques and regally elaborate silhouettes as she showcased the theatrically brilliant English Renaissance set - "Circa 2016".
The collection remoulds traditional hand-work, combining it with the designer’s signature techniques of pleating, appliqué work and quilting to present a runway that is brought to life with its classically romantic silhouettes. Capturing the poetic elegance and the romanticism of Shakespearean times, the collection flirts with ruffles and drapes, creating layers to unify the abstract with the fluid in a palette comprising of frozen lavender, rose quartz, old rose, celtic and moonshine grey, sage green, tigerlilly peach, salmon and scarlet. Combining breathtakingly beautiful fabrics such as pure silk, dupion silk, taffeta, silk tulle with touches of satin to portray the regality and distinguished finesse of the bygone years, the Nivedita Saboo Autumn Winter 2016 line was a capsule collection showcasing wedding couture for the modern & global Indian. From impeccably constructed corsets and royal sherwanis, avant-garde lehengas, versatile gowns with lattice-work collars, gun-metal and gold surface ornamentation on classic Indian silhouettes, the line-up takes you in to its subliminal realm that is so beautifully familiar yet exudes mystery that keeps you intrigued, on your toes and, as always, asking for more. Mr. World Rohit Khandelwal looked dashing as he walked the ramp for Nivedita as the showstopper for the grand finale.
The evening also witnessed FAD, MIT, Int’lHair and Makeup Zara show wherein makeup artists and hairstyling student Rajvee Vora, Khilti Savla, Karen Parwani and Shaili Mehta put a fabulous “Creative Fantasy Makeup Fashion Show”. Students paraded their creations down the catwalk with themes like Universe, Snow Flakes, Dark Fantasy, Metallic Beauty, Flutter Beauty, Chess Look, Gemstones, Aqua, Ice Princess and English Candle.
Adding to the fashion quotient was veteran designer Devaki of Kanya, who showcased her fusion collection “Vaarsa” inspired from ethnic Maharashtrian fabric, embroidery inspired by Maharashtra jewellery like waghnaki in pearls and zardosiand modern styles. Miss India Asia Pacific 2013, Shrishti Rana, walked the ramp as showstopper.
Anj Kouture showcased their latest bridal collection “Adarza” inspired by the “Sheesh Mahal” at Amer Fort, Jaipur. The collection incorporated motifs and embroidery from the intricate architecture of the palace. The color scheme of the collection takes you on a journey from pastels to deep shades of ivory, gold, peach, blush pink, sun yellow to deep maroon and red. The collection included heavy bridal lehengas, anarkalis and a lighter range for other functions. Actress Waluscha De Sousa made a beautiful bride in Anj’s bridal collection as she walked the ramp as their showstopper.
Bangladeshi Designer Bibi Russell showcased her collection inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, a homage & tribute to Gandhi-ji and the crafts people of Rajasthan. The collection was made with incredible products of Rajasthan to support the fine artisans and preserve their heritage and improve and innovate to help them sustain a better livelihood. Model Arey Dabas walked the ramp for Bibi Russell as the showstopper.
All in all, Pune Fashion Week 2016 was an opulent affair with the best in fashion, luxury and Bollywood all coming together under one roof, making the 6th edition very stylish, luxurious and innovative.