I went for quite a lot of shows during the five days at Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2015 - young designers, fresh designers, veteran designers, experimental designers, traditional designers - and some of the shows and work have stuck to my mind like a good book you read or a touching movie you watch.
The show by Hyderabad-based designer Gaurang Shah was one such show that stood out amongst all the glamour and glitz of Fashion Week fervour. I have watched Gaurang's shows in earlier seasons of Lakme Fashion Week before, and the drama and theatrics involved in his shows take them a level higher than most others.
But, this time, the designer just outdid himself with a show that was magnificent, dramatic, beautiful, larger-than-life and magical - in short, an experience worth cherishing!
The show started with the soulful strains of singer Razab Ali and his group's live music, accompanied by a glorious performance by dancers Akilesh & Apoorva that transported us to another world together.
Gaurang's models walked the ramp to the continuous vocals of the live singer who belted out rendition after rendition of soulful songs, enveloping the audience in an aura of art, beauty and music!
The collection, named Samyukta - after Prithviraj Chauhan's wife - was an elaborate mix of Kanjeevarams, Upaddas, Paithanis, Benarasis, Patan Patolas; interspersed with elegant embroideries like Zardosi, Gota, Aari, Chikankari and others. Gaurang presented clothes for modern-day brides and grooms who are traditional, yet confident; soft-hearted, yet strong-willed; stylishly contemporary, yet quintessentially Indian.
The vibrant color palette; models sporting gajras, bindi & sindoor; and the flowing silhouettes culminated in a collection that wowed us with its intricacy, beauty and proximity to Indian heritage & traditional techniques. The show, ended with the dancers rounding up the final line-up with yet another goosebump-inducing performance and the man-of-the-moment, Gaurang Shah, coming on to the ramp amidst an applause brimming with admiration and amazement.
Gaurang, as always, brought out the best in Indian handlooms, showing us what our community of weavers and artisans are truly capable of!
Gaurang, as always, brought out the best in Indian handlooms, showing us what our community of weavers and artisans are truly capable of!
Post-show, I couldn't help clicking some of the gorgeous ladies who had graced the front row, resplendent in all their Gaurang finery! Turns out, the designer impressed us equally both on and off the ramp!!! :)
This was one show that I'll not forget too soon and the beautiful experience of this show will remain with me forever...
Note: All pictures are taken by me and are copyright of Style Prism
Love,
Anupriya
Anupriya