An artistic show for contemporary Indian textiles at Devi Art Foundation

For those who often attend of Indian Fashion weeks, you will probably be aware of the phrase "reviving ancient Indian textiles". Meanwhile, a Baluchari bustier or a Kimkhab sari dress being showcased on the runway may seem a slightly futuristic and non-traditional in comparison. Nowadays, we are now seeing ancient crafts being fused into the contemporary 21st century through radial and unique ideas.

Mayank Mansingh Kaul, Sanjay Garg and Rahul Jain have recently organised talks at Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon about Fracture – Indian textiles,  showing a wide range of hand-made Indian textiles that have been introduced in a modern context.

The Devi Art Foundation showcased a variety of items such as a series of Indian clothes and silk thread cloths presented as a futuristic sculpture in 3D. All of these works have been part of a project that gathers together a plethora of hand made Indian textiles from across India.

“Though, in India, textiles are such a visible concept, there are no museum quality masterpieces” said Mayank Kaul, all these textiles were ordered between 2000 and 2014. “We wanted to discuss and deliberate what contemporary means in textiles today and what it means to break away from tradition” he completes. 

Here is a variety of creations that are exhibited in the show:

Fashion designer Rimzim Dadu, chose to use another original material such as silicon rubber sheets shredded to thin yarn which he displayed as a given the length of a sari. This textile piece showcases a stunning pattern that looks like the Jamdani weave. The material is graceful and light as a feather, and the stretched yarn brings an undulating pattern.

To represent earthly silhouettes, Shaikh Mohammad Hussain used block print on cotton to illustrate nine concentric spheres. We can see the work of two different views, nearly every sphere differs in pattern. When observed from a distance, it just looks like a repetition of sphere, all thisis  to remember the diversity of these textiles and patterns.

Astha Butail created 'Yoking of the Felicity', this installation takes inspiration from the Rigveda, where cloth has great importance. The artist constructed the piece in a contemporary way, by changing a simple product into a three-dimensional format, crafted from the loom itself.

Top 2015 Tips and Trends for Indian Beach Weddings

Beach weddings are becoming more and more popular, and we can definitely understand why! A light fashion filled suitcase, tanning necessities, and flowers in your hair, what more could you want! But it’s not always that simple, with a number of beach events it’s hard to know what bridal Indian wear to select to suit both the event and the destination.

Here are our top 2015 tips and beach wedding trends:

What to wear to the beach:

Swimsuits are a must for a beach wedding, and 2015 is all about going all-out with your swimwear choices! Think Fringing, bright prints and sexy cut outs. If you are not completely comfortable bearing all in a minimal swimsuit, team with a flowing kaftan or light jacket for the perfect layering technique.

Further to the cover-ups, kaftans and floaty jumpsuits in bright and sunny tones make for a perfect combo when it comes to beach wear. Go for simple prints or all block colours so not to over-power your outfit.

What to wear to the cocktail wedding party:

This can be tricky, as you want to dress to impress but also want something that is both easy and comfortable to wear. Go for sheer materials or glamorous sparkles and you are sure to stand out. Opt for a mid or full-length outfit for a classy and glamorous look.

What to wear to the brunch:

The day after you may be dealing with a bit of a sore head, but if you dress to impress no one will know! Opt for soft  cheerful colours and floaty styles– the loose maxi dress is coming back for 2015 and creates an effortlessly elegant look!

Now here’s the tricky bit, what Indian bridal wear to choose for the wedding:

For the bride: Opt for fresher and brighter tones than a traditional Indian bridal wear colour palette which normally comprise of deep burgundy, gold’s, and dark greens, and go for sunny hues such as yellow and bright reds. Opt for subtle and pretty embellishments to stay perfectly in synch with the beautiful and chilled landscape.

For the friends of the bride: Opt for more contemporary Indian bridal wear like classy palazzo pants with pretty tunics, simple and subtle full skirted lehengas teamed crop tops, elegant and light gowns and sheer saris in bright colours, for elegant and comfortable looks. Add fun and quirky turbans and fresh flowers to your hair for that exotic beach look!

Sources: Vogue India

Anita Dongre: A Powerful Fashion Businesswoman

Anita Dongre is nowadays one of the most famous Indian Designers. She built an authentic fashion empire with three design labels: her signature label Anita Dongre, AND, Global Desi.

Recently, she has been nominated for the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Ernst & Young. 

How did she become a businesswoman of Fashion?

Since, she was a child, she always wanted to become a designer in the fashion industry. She used to spend time in her grandmother’s house in Jaipur and she was seduced by Rajasthan with these colourful markets, architecture and the people. The place created an impact on her and a love for design and fashion. Just after graduating from SNDT College in Mumbai, she started supplying ready-to-wear to small stores in the city.

Then, she began to create a collection of clothes that she really liked. Obviously, the collection resounded with the young women who were open to experimenting with new outfits: western outfits. However, like every new designer, she encountered some problems with the shops that she supplied to - a lot of them were not open to the concept and the collections. So, she decided to start her own business. This Indian designer began to work at home designing for friends and supplying to little shops until her father offered her the possibility to start a small factory of her own which had grown more and more.

For Anita Dongre, the most important was creativity because it means constantly re-inventing and innovating herself and her creations, while keeping her signature design aesthetic. Her ideal fashion design is understated elegance and always offers the consumers “accessible luxury” inspired by Indian things and techniques, and by Rajasthan.

To succeed, she always stays organised, creative, and runs her fashion labels like one would run a corporate business - taking into account that fashion is very dynamic, with new trends and new styles coming every day, so she has to be a step ahead in the game. Also, another important key of success for her is to be passionate about what you do and to remember that creativity is constantly work in progress.

Anita Dongre has been successfully doing it right by opening a flagship in Mauritius and expects to realize her dream project - to move the brand headquarters to a bigger facility in Rabale, Navi Mumbai. This would make her company the first Indian fashion house to have its own centralised production hub.

The Multiple Facets of Jewellery Adornment

In Sanskrit, the word for jewellery is ‘aabharan’ that means to admire and protect. Jewellery is thus believed to be worn to take care of and protect our body and sensibilities of mental and physical well-being.

Adorning ourselves in beautiful jewellery and accessories is meant to enhance our beauty and aesthetic appeal. History reveals that, in ancient times doctors would recommend an amulet that can be worn to guard the body from diseases.

Today, magnetic belts are commonly worn to increase the circulation of blood to specific body parts that can help these parts heal.

Gold and many semi- precious stones are considered auspicious and are believed to be tokens of wellness. Adornment does not always need to be elaborate, flamboyant or expensive. Adornment can also be simple. Adornment occurs in tribal areas, in the mountains and in villages where even though the lifestyle is simple, people still consider wearing jewellery significant.

Design characteristics and embellishments are commonly found in all parts of nature and design draws inspiration from this using plants and animals to create stunning jewellery designs that are be used as forms of adornment. We can see adornment and design all around us. For example in the stripes of a zebra, peacock feathers, swans eyes, butterfly wings etc. and all of these designs help us in our design sensibilities.

While adornment has always been an important factor in design with multiple meanings and uses, teamed with comfort, it acts as a personal expression of ourselves.

Have a look at other pieces of Indian jewellery!

The Bollywood Celebrity Replica Trend

Recall the days when you brought a magazine with you to your favourite tailor and asked them to duplicate the ensemble of what your favourite star wore in a specific film? Now, you just have to go online, look at a variety of replicas that are available to purchase on websites, then select what Bollywood stars wore in their newest film or at particular red carpet event, and then simply order it. From a saree to a particular salwar kameez, you will be able to find it.

E-commerce brands have understood that Bollywood style clothing sells in a very large way, not just in India, but globally as well. Rahul Garg, the co-founder and CEO of ArtisanGilt.com stated that the global customers purchase extremely high-value products and their quantities are over double then by local customers.

According to Garg, these consumers are happy purchasing very expensive replicas of specific garments and accessories that have been showcased by Bollywood stars. He also claimed that his garments are actually made by the same materials and are designed precisely like the original.

Garg also stated that within the case of global customers, Bollywood is the main and important sector to showcase fashion garment trends in India. And that most these consumers purchase these particle items for social parties, particularly weddings.

Do you buy replicas? have any thoughts to share with us on the topic?

Bollywood Actresses and their Social Commitments

Who said that Bollywood Celebrities are only interested in themselves?

Indeed two weeks ago they attended an event organized by Nikhar Tandon in Mumbai to raise funds for cataract surgeries and medical camps, moreover a part of the proceeds will be developed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The host of the event was the founder of Samyedana Foundation, created in order to support under-privileged children. In this case the show was about artworks made by different artists, including Nikhar herself.

Among the guests present, some caught our attention for their sober and good-looking outfits. One of these was Karisma Kapoor dressed in a white shirt and floral pants, enhanced by high heels and open toe Louboutin shoes paired a statement necklace. The outfit was completed with a simple hairstyle constituted by a fishtail braid.

Other actresses opted for monochromatic outfits, for example Aditi Rao Hydari choose a long black kurta and embroidered pants designed by Anita Dongre, complemented by golden heels and a clutch in the same colour, finished by a beautiful necklace. The makeup was really simple and she looked chic and elegant.

Also the outfit chosen by Lisa Haydon was Black, even if it was a little bit more eye-catching because of the stripes on the dress. The chiffon top featured roses around the neck softening her outfit.

Completely in contrast with them, Parineeti Chopra opted for white trousers and same colour top paired with nude open shoes. Finally Gauhar Khan, the famous Raw Star, was wearing a black high- waist skirt and a white sleeveless top, obviously with black pointed heels. A puff hairstyle completed her outfit.

Want to have a look to other another celebrity style?

Will Freida Pinto ever Act in Bollywood?

Freida Pinto is a famous international actress who comes originally from India. She was born and grew up in Mumbai. Everybody knows her for her appearance in “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), a movie directed by Danny Boyle.

Now Freida is an affirmed actress, who is waiting to present her new film “Knight of Cups” in 2015, in which she has acted with Hollywood actors Christian Bale and Natalie Portman. In the meantime she finally expressed her intention to work in India.

She is 30 years old, but has never worked in her own country. Indeed from when she was young she has always wanted to become a global actress so at some point of time she just packed her bags and took a plane to Hollywood. According to what she said, the most difficult thing is to convince Hollywood that Indian actors can play different roles, not just the ones related to their country. 

Freida explained that when she goes to an audience, she is just an actress playing a role, not an Indian actress. Fortunately nowadays filmmakers are not so strict, they are open to hire actors from India in order to play different characters. A behaviour that was not so diffused 10 years ago.

She would like to become a role model for other Indian girls who dream of a different life, but at the same time she doesn’t forget her origins: Indian education permitted her to appreciate real relationships and to do not be scared by other countries’ poorness because she already experienced her own country’s one.

Indeed the only reason why she never made a Bollywood movie is that every time an opportunity came up, she was already committed with another film outside India. Maybe finally it is the right time for the actress to come back to her origins?

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Dapper Jacket Trends for Men

Indian men are always experimenting with fashion and recently there has been much interest in the famous velour jacket spotted on Karan Johar during his popular chat show ‘Koffee with Karan’. The stylish director is spotted in a new colour of these velour jackets in most episodes of his chat show. This trend has caught on with many famous personalities that are wearing these jackets in royal colours like teal, burgundy and claret.

Actor, Ranveer Singh who is definitely the talk of the town for his bold style statements has been seen wearing a brocade and jacquard jacket that also became extremely stylish. The fabric for these jackets has a slight shimmer instead of a gloss and when made with good quality fabrics, these jackets are sure to please.

Ace designer, Sabyasachi recently launched a collection of floral printed suits that is forecasted to trend in 2015. These suits suit young and lean men that sport bush-beards like Sabyasachi’s typical men models. The tuxedo was another favourite trend of 2014. One can never go wrong with the classic tuxedo and it truly is the ultimate form of gentlemen’s dressing.

Imran Khan who is usually impeccably dressed often shows up in luxurious tuxedos at events and the dapper white jacket tuxedo with fitted black pants is another favourite.

With the festive season and New Year, not only will the ladies will look glamorous in their shining gowns but also well-dressed men are sure to steal the show!

See also the last news about Indian actresses!

Latest Indian Fashion Trend Predictions for 2015

We’re now in 2015 and are soon to be entering the crazy fashion season which includes hundreds of shows across a number of cities, showcasing an influx of new fashion ideas and trends. This can be slightly overwhelming in the fast pace of the fashion world, especially within the ever-evolving Indian fashion sector. But don’t panic, we’re here to help!

This year will bring a huge variety of new and exciting Indian trends that can be worked into almost everyone's wardrobe, whether you are looking for a casual day outfit or stand-out evening attire. Here are our top 4 trend predictions for this year,

Colour Blocking

2014 saw an influx of neutral tones and toned down hues swarm the runways and high streets, but colour seems to slowly creeping back into the limelight. The colour-blocking trend is one that has come and gone many times, but this year we’re seeing it come back with a point of different to keep up with the latest Indian trends; layering! By layering up contrasting colours it creates bold and stylish look that can be worn in variety of ways to suit peoples personal styles.

Feminine Sheers

Sheer has also been a popular trend in the past but this year we’re seeing it take a feminine turn. In the past the sheer trend is been somewhat edgy in it’s aesthetic, but this new sheer trend takes on a feminine embodiment in the form of stylish evening dresses and gowns. This trend can be worn as a daring skin bearing look or teamed with other garments such as underskirts as a classy layering technique.

Gold Embellishment

Black is a trend which will never go out of fashion, and what better way to embrace it than with a stylish gold embellishment. 2014 was the year of bold and basic trends with minimum detail, but 2015 is always seeing an influx of pattern and embellishment. Black and gold are definitely the colours of choice within the latest Indian trends for 2015; a match made in heaven!

Fringing

Tassels and fringing is a trend that has been on and off for a while now, but mainly within festival fashion. The 2015 trend is all about dressing up the fringing look; think evening gowns and girly dresses. Bright colours are also a key part of this trend, forget the natural brown and nude tones of 2014, and go for bright and bold hues for a quirky and stylish look!

Want to see other designs from Indian fashion?