The annual fashion event showcases one-of-a-kind fashion in equally bespoke settings where a lot is invested in the set, the ramp and the ambience around which designers want to showcase their collection. The ambience and the collection are carefully synchronised to highlight the couturier’s design ethos for the collection. Over the ten days, 13 couturiers showcased their collection and the fashionistas had their fashion sensibilities fully satiated.
The week ended with a tastefully curated sit-down dinner to celebrate the conclusion of a decade-and-half of Indian Couture. The 15th edition of India Couture Week 2022 ended with couturier Anamika Khanna’s collection.
Anamika Khanna: An Experiment
As the name suggests, Anamika Khanna’s Couture 2022 collection was truly an experiment. She played with textiles, silhouettes, anti-fashion and texturisation. Anamika paired a lot of elements that are usually a juxtaposition like a goddess draped dresses with structured floor-dusting jackets, fitted silhouettes with fluid, sheer fabric with opaque ones, draped nip and tuck skirts with moulded tops and well-stitched suits with tattered detailing.
Vivid prints, highlighted with beaded embroidery, elaborate tassels, vintage laces, ruches and ruffles, and deconstruction were some bold elements that were awe-inspiring in Khanna’s collection.
Kunal Rawal: Dear Men
Kunal Rawal has been a go-to designer for many Bollywood stars and has been a regular at the India Couture Week. Kunal, often focuses on menswear, albeit, also believes in gender-neutral designs and has an element of androgyny in his styles.
Kunal Rawal seems to be highly influenced by the Scandinavian School of Design and deftly blends structure and drape in his collection like the sherwanis which he showcased that seemed like a blend of stole and sherwani that had stunning rounded hems. Lots of crafty patterns were seen in the slim pants and structured jackets, layered with a long sleeveless long jacket. Tone-on-tone embroidery was soothing to the eye and very elegant.
The collection also had elements that can be mixed and matched and can be worn for different occasions.
Kunal catering to the diversity also showcased a designer Veshti or a Mundu that is the ‘occasional wear’ in the southern regions of the vast subcontinent. Black, purple, greys, lime green and ivory pallets were seen in the collection for men.
Falguni Shane Peacock: Love Forever
The designer duo of Falguni and Shane Peacock showcased extravagant bridal wear in their Couture 2022 collection. The designer duo are known for using feathers as trims on the borders and necklines of ensembles, which this collection also exhibited. Shane and Falguni crafted gherdaar lehengas that were stitched out using multiple panels, also known as ‘Kalis’. These lehengas had an intricate crystal, gemstone, pearl, and chrome embellishment that formed motifs inspired by French tapestries. We observe a shift of emphasis with the cholis that were cropped and trimmed with ruffles, alongside sheer long sleeves and jewelled shoulder straps. The chrome applique work was extensively used to embellish motifs that reflected Indo-French architectural styles. The glimmer of chrome shone brightly on hues of opal, green, champagne pink, nude and ivory.
The finale collection of India Couture Week 2022 by Anamika dazzled the ramp in radiant reds, sombre black, and ivory, bringing the Couture week to fruition admirably.
Text by Jaydeep Ghosh
Image Courtesy: Falguni Shane Peacock, Kunal Rawal and Anamika Khanna
Find more about India Couture Week:
https://www.instagram.com/falgunishanepeacockindia/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/kunalrawalofficial/?hl=en
