Lakme Fashion Week 2013: Six yard splendour, glitter of gold at Summer-Resort

Mumbai: The sheer elegance of six yard presented in innovative modern styles, high on grace and femininity, was the high point of the just concluded Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer-Resort 2013, which also saw glitter of gold on the ramp.

Other unique concepts brought on the ramp also made the five-day event a memorable experience for all and sundry. If Indian designers presented spectacular collection of six yards, especially in net, international designer Naeem Khan, who made his India debut at the LFW, too introduced a new version of sari called "Ball gown sari". Specifically designed for the Indian audience, Khan`s sari draping style is unique, making it like a ball gown. It was received well when displayed on the ramp. "The ball gown sari has been specially designed for India. It is one piece of fabric without any stitches and just needs to be draped," Khan said explaining his unique costume. Draping a sari is no longer tedious for women, thanks to designers for introducing new range of six yards, which were light, yet elegant. Ace designer Rehane`s Indian look was also appreciated greatly at the event. Her clothes, though very desi, had an extremely modern and trendy touch making them appealing. "My line was about a summer bride and what she would wear. I have displayed net saris, which are glamorous but also look very fragile. Such outfits will make women look divine," she said. Even Bhairavi Jaikishan focused on net saris. Titled "Paradise Island", her collection offered net saris with heavy embroideries, salwaar-kameez and embroidered lehengas. "My collection was for destination weddings. The clothes are very wearable. You can wear these clothes at different places It is a light weight collection," she said. The other designers who showcased a wide variety of saris were Manish Malhotra, Vikram Phadnis, Masaba, Soumitra Mondal, Farah and Firdos, Payal Singhal among others. Not only were the saris different, they were teamed up with innovative blouses. Payal Singhal, for whom gorgeous Aditi Rao Hydari walked the ramp, presented and interesting range of innovative blouse designs with her saris. For instance, she presented a spectacular range of buttery mul-saris with free flowing kurtas. Not only were the audience impressed with the beautiful saris, but so were the celebrities. Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who was invited on to the ramp to walk at Manish Malhotra`s show, was thoroughly impressed with the sari she was wearing. "Today, I am wearing Manish Malhotra`s sari and thanks for giving me this opportunity," she had said after her walk. Other than that, the fashion week focused a lot on gold accessories, making the collections attractive. Masaba, who showcased a line called "Postcards of Benaras", used a lot of gold jewellery. "I used traditional Benaras jewellery. The whole idea was to create a fusion. The idea was to make it look jarring. It was an Indian fusion line," she said. If fashion, style and glamour dominated the event, social causes too found strong foot hold. Ace designer Vikram Phadnis`s "Celebration of Rural India" was a tribute to rural India. He partnered with Swades Foundation, an NGO working for the empowerment of rural India, and dedicated his line to the cause. "I am celebrating rural India through my line. Swades works for rural India and I am glad that they approached me," he said. Even Narendra Kumar`s line "Thought Police", spoke about uprisings of Indian youth in the past one year. "Last year, for the first time, we saw India`s youth standing up and we all saw what happened to them. The idea of the show was to get people thinking. We needed to instigate them. I don`t care if people got angry and walked out," he said. LFW ended March 26 with a fabulous grand finale by Namrata Joshipura and actress Kareena Kapoor hit the runway looking completely mesmerizing in orange-pink blingy palazzos teamed up with fitting top with a pink semi-formal jacket. Starting with six budding "Gen Next" designers Debashri Samanta, Karishma Jamwal, Ragini Ahuja, Shubham Kumar, Sneha S. Saha and Stephany D`Souza, the week showcased various renowned designers like Manish Malhotra, Vikram Phadnis, Swapnil Shinde, Rocky S, Arjun Khanna, Naeem Khan, Shantanu and Nikhil among others. The talent box, a platform by LFW to promote new designers, was also a huge hit. IANS