Day One
The stage was set, the players ready, as was the music. The lights dimmed, marking the beginning of a spectacular night. It was the Chennai International Fashion Week, hosted by Kingfisher Premium and presented by Storm Fashion Company. The Hyatt Regency’s Grand Ball Room provided the perfect ambience for the event. The pristine ramp, lined with ruby-red roses, sparkled, as the city’s most fashionable made a grand entrance. The evening started off with Krishna Mehta’s collection, simple and sophisticated. With an exciting palette and exquisite embroidery, it fused two decidedly distinct styles.
Next up was Sakshi Bindra, presenting her sophisticated and fun line ‘Sakk’, a dedication to the 21st Century woman. It featured actor Parvathy Nair as the showstopper. Mumtaz Khan followed, bringing with him Bhopal’s signature works. A tribute to the erratic yet mesmerising monsoon, his line ‘Bliss’ used natural colours with local flavour. The glamorous night ended with Mona Pali’s collection. A seamless blend of unconventional colours, cuts and fabrics, the collection put a refreshing spin on a classic concept with bold new dimensions. With each collection paying homage to a vintage thought, it was a promising start to one of the most dazzling events on the Chennai calendar.
Day Two
With an ambience similar to that of day one, the evening saw audience excitedly discussing what was in store for the day. It began with designer Hari Anand’s collection ‘Enigma’ that brought with it mystery and mystique of the medieval ages. It was showcased with music and stage settings to fit the theme. Then came Jattinn Kochhar’s pleasant ‘Right Now, Right Here’ collection. A tribute to a happy childhood filled with lollipops and swing sets, the collection was full of pop shades of happiness — from bright tangerine to fuchsia. And, the final was the best. To the accompaniment of a little dubstep (heavy on the bass), Julie Verghese’s collection was flirty, saucy and fun. The models, draped in breezy fabrics such as chiffon and georgette, glided down the ramp with ease. The appearance of Tamil stars Regina and Vishakha Singh had the audience delighted; wolf whistles were heard from a mile away. Day 2 came to an end, offering something for everyone.
Day Three
The line up for Day Three was designers Nazia Syed, Riyaz Ganji, Aslam Khan and Rocky S. Nazia Sayed began the evening with a line that paid a tribute to women achievers. ‘Ikat Goes Pop’ was about beautiful earth-toned silk Ikat weaves combined with cheery pop prints. Well-known faces from the city walked the ramp for the designer. Riyaz Gangji of the label ‘Libas’ showcased a couture line that was a mix of traditional and contemporary elements. Luxurious fabric and painstaking embellishment were the highlight of this collection. Actor Lakshmi Rai was the showstopper, and she wowed the audience in an intricately worked gaghra. Designer Aslam Khan’s was all about Bollywood glamour. Mugdha Godse and Sonal Chauhan who walked the ramp for the designer proved that style was about attitude. Though the grand finale that featured the works of Rocky S went on well past midnight, the audience remained seated to catch glimpses of the celebrity designer’s signature cocktail charm. While black ruled the ramp, the designer showed how delicate or heavy embellishments could draw eyeballs to the garments.
