Guru-shishya relationships are celebrated in many fields, from sports, to dance, to business, even. The relationship recently found a place on an Indian ramp, too. At the grand finale of Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2017, held last night at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, designer Tarun Tahiliani and his protégé Amit Aggarwal presented their collections together for the first time in a spectacular show, that saw over 80 looks interpreting title sponsor Amazon’s “Fresh New Look” theme.
Nomadic Indian tribes provided the creative inspiration for Tarun Tahiliani’s ready-to-wear line, which came juxtaposed with Mughal armory art inspired motifs.
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The jewel tones in the collection that included capri emerald, midnight lapiz, rich claret, indigo, reds, aubergine and aged rust along with black, cream and beige, were according to the designer, an ode to the Fall.
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Tahiliani’s collection included modern ethnic separates that were divided into eight categories (Polka, Kashuti, Chikankari, Mondrian Damask, Renaissance Stripes, Constructed Drapes, Golden Weave and Hussar). The Polka range had polka patterns made using Ajrakh on jumpsuits, dresses, tunics, gilets and shirts. The Kasuti collection took inspiration from bidri art and highlighted it on capes, draped tunics, kurtas and jumpsuits. The Chikankari collection had resham embroidery on damask prints. While the Mondrian Damask range was colour blocked with motifs inspired by Piet Mondrian’s paintings and art.
The Constructed Drapes collection, of course, bore the atelier’s trademark draping style, which was highlighted with thread embroidery.
While topography and architecture provided the inspiration for Amit Aggarwal’s AW’17 couture collection.
In this collection too, the designer continued his journey of recycling and upcycling, working on a series of outfits developed from vintage textiles, that were once unused saris, and combining them with recycled waste.
Adding his creations to the new wave of sustainable couture, the designer used pre-owned patola sarees and Benaras brocades, and treated them with industrial methods like pleating and weaving with recycled metallic strips, to create eclectic new age outfits.
Sustainable couture and stunning drapes, now wasn’t that a good end to the fashion week?
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