When the ramp gets real ready at Lakme Fashion Week

After years of striving towards creating a picture perfect show, fashion designers appear to be challenging norms now. At the just concluded Lakme Fashion Week in the city, a few designers challenged the concepts of a model and a showstopper by making some unconventional choices on the ramp.

Hyderabad-based designer Gaurang Shah made headlines when he got supermodel Carol Gracias to walk the ramp, cradling a baby bump. He was highly applauded for the bold step but he wasn’t anticipating such an overwhelming reaction.

Deepa Gurnani replaced models with backstage crew that included stylists, hairdressers and even bloggers and they were of all body types. Previously, Delhi-based designer Mandeep Nagi kicked a storm in the fashion corridors when she got her house-help Kamala to model for the clothes. The results were stunning, and opened a world of possibilities for the industry to explore.

For Gaurang, it was not a pre-planned move. He says that until the fittings stage, he was not aware of Carol’s pregnancy. “I knew Carol would be able to reflect the beauty of the collection well. Pregnant or not I’ll always choose he,” and adding that they first wanted to hide her bump with a gown, but later went with the sari that made her look “naturally beautiful”.

According to veteran fashion choreographer Lubna Adams, the practice of showcasing real people on the ramp is not entirely novel.  Lubna says, “It shows that clothes designed are not just for models but for people as well. It's to allay the notion that one has to have a perfect height and body type to slip into a particular outfit."

Case in point, Delhi-based designer Mandeep Nagi, who says, “It’s also about how people are no longer imitating what stars do but are ready to embrace their imperfections.”

Mandeep has always preferred getting non-models to showcase her collections. “I have never used professional models. My idea of fashion is all about simplicity and feeling good in your own skin,” she says.