PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012 begins today

PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012 begins today

Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI)’s PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012 kicks off this evening in New Delhi with Varun Bahl’s show.

FDCI PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012

FDCI has unveiled a creative look for the event- one image for each day. Each of these five images highlights tools that help create couture garments- from the mannequin torso to the humble iron. These intricate designs remind me of Indian royalty, and are the result of several brain storming sessions with the FDCI creative committee (David Abraham, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rohit Bal and Suneet Varma) and the graphic design company– Bombay Design House.

I think it’s a brilliant concept- my favourite images from the series are that of the sewing machine (Day 4 Green) and the clothes hanger (Day 2 Purple).

PCJ Delhi Couture Week Day 4 Green

PCJ Delhi Couture Week Day 2 Purple

Meanwhile, I’ve got a wishlist of the shows I’d like to watch:

  • J J Valaya
  • Varun Bahl
  • Anamika Khanna
  • Manish Arora
  • Shantanu & Nikhil
  • Manav Gangwani
  • Sabyasachi

Yup, fashion at PCJ Delhi Couture Week promises to be stunning!

PCJ Delhi Couture Week is a “By Invitation Only” event by Fashion Design Council of India, held in New Delhi from August 8 to 12, 2012.

Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week highlights: Rich colours, luxe opulence and lots of glamour

Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week came to an end Monday evening, and we bring you top highlights of the fashion week.

Jewel tones and romantic touches at Adarsh Gill

Adarsh Gill’s signature red sparkled on the ramp with jewel tones, kindling romance with the lyrical flow of her saris to the fitted form of evening gowns. The key theme was royal opulence.

Adarsh Gill at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week  Adarsh Gill at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Vintage Indian charm at Ashima-Leena

Deisgner duo Ashima-Leena evoked the richness of Indian fashion of the days of yore with voluminous, old gold  brocades, muted brights, layering fabrics and silhouettes, and refined and restrained embellishment.

Ashima _ Leena at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week Ashima _ Leena at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Ashima _ Leena with Sharmila Tagore at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Voluminous silhouettes, visions of splendour by Manav Gangwani

Manav Gangwani’s A Timeless Affaire created silhouettes of effortless elegance, warrior woman- like exaggerated collar detail and armour-like structures, sheer voluminous skirts, flowing gowns, flared lehengas, novel anarkalis, juxtaposed with the sari.

The designer also used Swarovski Elements with exquisite embroidery and gota work to evoke timeless glamour.

 Manav Gangwani at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Manav Gangwani at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Steamy colours and range of embellishments at Suneet Varma

Suneet Varma’s Kamasutra collection invoked passion with its deep red, orange and fuschias. Embellished metallic bras were paired with flowing skirts, while traditional Zardozi koti shrugs paired with sheer skirts and saris. Lace-embroidered saris in deep blues, gray and blacks, were embellished with mirror work and intricate ribbon rosettes. Pale nudes with aari and pearl embroidery portrayed the fresh and feminine side of the sensuous woman, while kundan work also appeared on the ramp.

Suneet Varma at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011  Suneet Varma at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011

Suneet Varma at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011

French inspiration by Varun Bahl

Marie Antoinette was Varun Bahl’s muse for this collection. Corset blouses, velvet shoes and gorgeous jackets played the French game on the Indian wear collection. Dominant colours were green, pink, red, maroon and cream.

Varun Bahl at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011

Which collection did you like most at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011?

Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week highlights: Rich colours, luxe opulence and lots of glamour

Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week came to an end Monday evening, and we bring you top highlights of the fashion week.

Jewel tones and romantic touches at Adarsh Gill

Adarsh Gill’s signature red sparkled on the ramp with jewel tones, kindling romance with the lyrical flow of her saris to the fitted form of evening gowns. The key theme was royal opulence.

Adarsh Gill at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week  Adarsh Gill at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Vintage Indian charm at Ashima-Leena

Deisgner duo Ashima-Leena evoked the richness of Indian fashion of the days of yore with voluminous, old gold  brocades, muted brights, layering fabrics and silhouettes, and refined and restrained embellishment.

Ashima _ Leena at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week Ashima _ Leena at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Ashima _ Leena with Sharmila Tagore at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Voluminous silhouettes, visions of splendour by Manav Gangwani

Manav Gangwani’s A Timeless Affaire created silhouettes of effortless elegance, warrior woman- like exaggerated collar detail and armour-like structures, sheer voluminous skirts, flowing gowns, flared lehengas, novel anarkalis, juxtaposed with the sari.

The designer also used Swarovski Elements with exquisite embroidery and gota work to evoke timeless glamour.

 Manav Gangwani at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Manav Gangwani at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week

Steamy colours and range of embellishments at Suneet Varma

Suneet Varma’s Kamasutra collection invoked passion with its deep red, orange and fuschias. Embellished metallic bras were paired with flowing skirts, while traditional Zardozi koti shrugs paired with sheer skirts and saris. Lace-embroidered saris in deep blues, gray and blacks, were embellished with mirror work and intricate ribbon rosettes. Pale nudes with aari and pearl embroidery portrayed the fresh and feminine side of the sensuous woman, while kundan work also appeared on the ramp.

Suneet Varma at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011  Suneet Varma at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011

Suneet Varma at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011

French inspiration by Varun Bahl

Marie Antoinette was Varun Bahl’s muse for this collection. Corset blouses, velvet shoes and gorgeous jackets played the French game on the Indian wear collection. Dominant colours were green, pink, red, maroon and cream.

Varun Bahl at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011

Which collection did you like most at Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week 2011?

Fashion week updates: Manish Malhotra to close LFW W/F 2011, Delhi Couture Week begins July 22

Bollywood favourite Manish Malhotra is grand finale designer for Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011

One of India’s best-known fashion designers—Manish Malhotra—will close LFW W/F 2011 next month. This is the third time Manish Malhotra will be showcasing his collection at an LFW grand finale (earlier such instances: 1999 and 2007).

Manish’s collection will showcase contemporary Indian evening wear, and will be based on Lakmé ABSOLUTE, a long-wear makeup range with skin care properties. According to Manish, “Lakmé Absolute is inspired by the contemporary Indian woman who effortlessly plays myriad set of roles across her personal and professional life. Akin to my style, the collection adapts contemporary fashion to the needs of the Indian woman.” The Lakmé Absolute collection is designed by Lakmé makeup experts and co-created with Manish Malhotra.

We absolutely loved Manish Malhotra’s chikankari and Kashmiri embroidery-based collection at the previous edition of LFW. We hope to see him outdo himself creatively… again!

Below: Manish Malhotra at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011.

Manish Malhotra with models at LFW S/R 2011

Second edition of Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week kicks off July 22

Model at Delhi Couture WeekThe second edition of Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week will begin July 22, with the opening show by Varun Bahl. The four-day FDCI event that aims to promote couture in India and globally will end July 25 with ace designer Rohit Bal’s show.

While we believe the idea of a couture week for India is a great idea, we hope the couture collections are taken seriously by both designers and the public. Only then can we hope to see much-needed creativity and fabulous fashion from India’s top designers.

Left : A model at last year’s Delhi Couture Week.

Fashion week updates: Manish Malhotra to close LFW W/F 2011, Delhi Couture Week begins July 22

Bollywood favourite Manish Malhotra is grand finale designer for Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011

One of India’s best-known fashion designers—Manish Malhotra—will close LFW W/F 2011 next month. This is the third time Manish Malhotra will be showcasing his collection at an LFW grand finale (earlier such instances: 1999 and 2007).

Manish’s collection will showcase contemporary Indian evening wear, and will be based on Lakmé ABSOLUTE, a long-wear makeup range with skin care properties. According to Manish, “Lakmé Absolute is inspired by the contemporary Indian woman who effortlessly plays myriad set of roles across her personal and professional life. Akin to my style, the collection adapts contemporary fashion to the needs of the Indian woman.” The Lakmé Absolute collection is designed by Lakmé makeup experts and co-created with Manish Malhotra.

We absolutely loved Manish Malhotra’s chikankari and Kashmiri embroidery-based collection at the previous edition of LFW. We hope to see him outdo himself creatively… again!

Below: Manish Malhotra at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011.

Manish Malhotra with models at LFW S/R 2011

Second edition of Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week kicks off July 22

Model at Delhi Couture WeekThe second edition of Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week will begin July 22, with the opening show by Varun Bahl. The four-day FDCI event that aims to promote couture in India and globally will end July 25 with ace designer Rohit Bal’s show.

While we believe the idea of a couture week for India is a great idea, we hope the couture collections are taken seriously by both designers and the public. Only then can we hope to see much-needed creativity and fabulous fashion from India’s top designers.

Left : A model at last year’s Delhi Couture Week.