Setting the ramp ablaze
The collections of Hyderabad-based designers Sailesh Singhania and Neha Agarwal were well-received at LFW.
Designers Sailesh Singhania and Neha Agarwal put up a stunning show at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2017 Edition. Sailesh paid homage to Princesses with his handwoven silk saris and lehengas that were showcased by Radhika Apte and Mandira Bedi.
“‘Winter Rose’ collection is inspired by the westernised interpretation of the sari usually worn by the Princesses in India to acclimatise to cold, windy conditions in London and Paris during their visits. The woven motifs include roses, Hyderabad chandeliers, tea pots and cups, patterns of a Jaipur jharokha and more,” he says.
The colours are a celebration of festive winters with ruby red, celebratory orange, royal purple, fuchsia pink and emerald green with vintage gold zari work. “At the cusp of the seismic shift from Indian monarchy and the British Raj to the democratic freedom of a nation, the face of the new nation was foretold by the Princesses of India,” Sailesh says, adding, “It was a time of change with Indian Royalty pulled into Western education and lifestyles to show their obeisance to the British and yet, they retained their affinity to Indian culture. The Princesses of Jaipur, Kapurthala and Hyderabad blended the European style with saris.”
Sailesh has been supporting 800 weavers in the country and has even adopted a village in Madhya Pradesh. While his grandfather was a Textile Minister in the Nizam’s court, Sailesh pursued textile engineering in 2005 and began branding his designs five years ago. He says, “The show went well and the response from the audience was amazing. Handloom saris are the best attire and women should be proud wearing them.”
On the other hand, Chitrangada Singh graced the ramp for Neha Agarwal as she unveiled her collection ‘Mithila in Soho’. It presents urban evening wear where each garment was hand embroidered with the kitschiest motifs of Madhubani art, marrying Indian art to modern sporty silhouettes. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Lakme Fashion Week once again. This was my third season and I couldn’t have thought of anyone more perfect than Chitrangada Singh for being my muse,” says Neha.
The colours of Neha’s collection were inspired by nature like indigo, ochre, terracotta and warmer tones like chestnut, burgundy and vermillion. “‘Mithila in Soho’ is my ingenious attempt to take the splendor of traditional Madhubani art to fashion-forward women of 2018,” she adds.