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The second day of Dubai Fashion Week was studded with a host of Indian designers turning up the heat.
If the high priest of Indian fashion Tarun Tahiliani gave the fashionistas and buyers a taste of India in all its splendour, then the grand finale came with popular designer Vikram Phadnis offering a taste of what lies beyond with his eclectic Indo-Western fusion collection.
Vibrant colours, silks, crepes and prints inspired from nature were some of the highlights of the shows that began fashionably late (an hour to be precise).
As expected, the fourth installment of the fashion extravaganza held at Godolphin Ballroom at Emirates Towers was a flashy affair with liberal use of colours, flouncy outfits, bold digitised tie-die motifs inspired from paintings and nature and flowing fabrics.
Animal instincts
Paras Bajroliya and Rana Gill from Mumbai Se opened with the chanting of Vedic hymns, then changed gears to a fast Bollywood number.
The show began with a string of traditional Indian clothes, switched to vibrant multi-coloured snazzy numbers and then proceeded to display clothes with animal-inspired prints. tabloid! caught up with Paras Bajroliya.
What was the inspiration behind your collections?
We wanted to create traditional Indian silhouettes with a distinctive old- world romantic look. Delicate embroidery, striking textures and vibrant motifs were used a lot.
Are you attempting to nail any particular statement with your look?
Our clothes are ideally meant for a global Indian who's well travelled and is a collector of arts, books and paintings. Our clothes also have a streak of wildness in them.
What are the season's must haves?
A pair of gladiator shoes and a T-shirt with a kooky print on it.
‘I am back to bling'
Vikram Phadnis is a perpetual favourite of Dubai Fashion Week. Afterattending the show every year, Phadnis is on a quest for reinvention. "I am back to bling", were his opening remarks when tabloid! caught up with him before the show. Unlike his spring-summer 2008 collection, Phadnis says he opted to stay away from full-skirted creations such as lehengas with heavily embellished corsets.
"A bit of bling, smattering of sequins and structured evening gowns and cocktail dresses in eclectic colours are the high points of my collection," says Phadnis before unveiling his collection.
With no particular theme or inspiration in mind, the Indian designer - who has worked closely with many A-list Bollywood celebrities - adds that he has tried to experiment with colours, cuts and styles.
"You could call me a regular at Dubai Fashion Week and I have tried my best to depart from my usual style of Indian styles. I have also gone easy with the accessories. The sole embellishment is the coloured wigs to add a bit of pizzazz," he added.
Return of stripes
On a regular day, you would associate designer Jenny Nicholson with her Jenny Rose maternity wear range. But Tuesday night saw the designer in a new avatar.
With her Kilara collection comprising heavily-beaded kaftans, small ponchos and jackets, Nicholson transported the Dubai fashion into a summery mode.
Turquoise, tangerines and yellows were her favourites. Meanwhile, it was the return of the stripes for Troy who was showcasing his men's wear. Metallic colours, slim pants and blazers made from knit-wear jerseys were the highlights.
"I prefer men looking masculine in their clothes. So I have deliberately stayed away from softer shades like pinks and lavender,' he says. Inspired by the concept of sport couture, Costa says his favourite is a formal blazer made from jersey material.
Rapid fire with Derek Khan
Dubai-based stylist Derek Khan, who was instrumental in introducing high-end fashion to the hip-hoppers spoke to tabloid!
What do you think of Dubai Fashion Week?
It's interesting. So far, I have been to just two shows (Troy Costa and Jenny Rose) and I loved the collections displayed by Costa. The slim pants, the attention to detail and the pockets were an interesting twist.
Which shows are you looking forward to?
I am excited about catching the show put together by my friend Hassan [HSY]. The grand finale featuring Essa looks promising. I am also hoping to catch up with some of my old friends from New York.
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