Kareena helped in brand building: Pankaj-Nidhi

Mumbai: Designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi Ahuja say getting actress Kareena Kapoor as the showstopper added value to their brand when they presented their collection at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2012.

They were the grand finale designers along with Kallol Datta at the fashion week, which concluded Tuesday. "Having Kareena (Kapoor) walk the ramp for us helped a lot. Our brand got noticed a lot more due to this. Also, she has noticed us and was asking about our collection. It is very exciting and we are happy," they told reporters. The actress sported an edgy look on the ramp - she flaunted a jet black long dress with infusions of leather and long fringe detailing. Originally from Delhi, Pankaj and Nidhi`s brand is six-year-old and is available in 20 stores across the country. This was their first stint at Mumbai fashion event and for them "the experience was awesome" and they "would love to come back to city again". "This is our first show here and it was quite amazing to see our stall over-flowing with people. The reaction from Mumbai has been fantastic and we would love to work here," Nidhi added. First time LFW roped in young designers for the grand finale. "It is new thing for Lakme, the finale had amazing energy because of new designers. I think everyone enjoyed the change," Pankaj added. There were lots of graphic prints and monochromatic colours on ramp and according to the designer, the collection was was unique in it`s own way. "We were inspired from very diverse elements like paper cutting, handcrafting, origami, stitching, basket weaving which all came through in out collection," he said. Short knitted dresses and jackets dominated the line in fabrics like wool and silk. IANS