At the ongoing India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 21, it is evident the wedding wear has lost
none of its opulence. In fact they are now more exotic and timeless.
Tarun Tahiliani presented his ‘India Modern’ bride and for which he turned back in time by almost half a century. Tahiliani says, “This is the year when we’ve held onto our roots as tightly as we possibly could. Which is why our celebrations feel even more sacred than they already are.” Tarun Tahiliani’s couture collection takes its inspiration from Minakari work on jewellery and interprets it on fabric in juxtaposition with classic Jaamevars. Modern fits and silhouettes, lehengas with pockets that weigh almost nothing is the Tarun Tahiliani style of celebration of freedom, lightness and love.
For the Spring of 2021, couturier Varun Bahl presented his new Demi Couture collection, Bloom, an homage to the power of Nature. True to the name, each and every ensemble of Varun Bahl bloomed with flowers. Waistcoats and tunics paired with Dhoti Pants or as the designer calls it – ‘Tulip Pants’ and flared trousers, capes with floral embellishment stitched out of satin and silk organza made for chic occasion wear. Ruffles, 3D embroidery, sequin and beads were extensively used to ornate the surface exquisitely. As per Varun Bahl, “Bloom paints a picture in luscious colours and exuberant articulations in delicate fabrics; a balance found in Nature itself.”
Abhishek Gupta took to his roots in crafting his collection – Benares. Using traditional handloom fabrics juxtaposed with fine appliqué, pleating, textures and intricate thread embroidery, the collection, though deeply rooted in tradition transcends every cultural barrier. I absolutely loved his Shervanis that were ’savagely tailored’ to perfection. He even synced the motifs over the shoulder seam petal-by-petal that requires skill and lots of extra fabric. Shiny brocades lined the shervanis and the lehengas were intricately embroidered and appliquéd to create a very classic look. A magnificent collection from Abhishek Gupta indeed.
Neeta Lulla created her ’She Universe’ with a diffusion range of shimmering saree gowns, pre-stitched sarees of a draped version kind. “As we unravel the varied fragments of the She-Universe, a bit of stardust is sprinkled over all our effortless pieces,” stated Neeta Lulla, one of the original designers to the Bollywood stars.
Ashima Leena showcased their Couture Collection 2020, titled ‘Umme Rabab’.The collection combined delicate hand embroidery on curated textiles with the classic Ashima Leena Maharani silhouettes. “Through our interpretation, we aspire to reflect a poetic flow in volume, layers, and impeccable garment construction, which characterizes the unique beauty of ‘Umme Rabab’,” said Leena Singh.
Text by Jaydeep Ghosh
Image Courtesy: Tarun Tahiliani, Varun Bahl, Abhishek Gupta, Neeta Lulla and Ashima Leena
Find out more about the artists and Gallery:
https://instagram.com/taruntahiliani?igshid=f1dvb9fpniy2
https://instagram.com/abhishek1206?igshid=rkxdxzxu29gq
