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Hide's hip side

Top models walked the ramp at a stunning show put up by Hidesign to launch its latest collection of bags at Pudhucherry

PHOTO T. SINGARAVELOU

HAUTE HIDE Models displaying one of the creations

It was difficult to decide whether to concentrate on the model's perfect aquiline noses, or their delectably hip bags. In a slick fashion show held at The Promenade hotel, Hidesign proudly trumpeted its winter collection with a startlingly individual set of sequences, each centred around a colour theme.With the likes of gorgeous Rajneesh Duggal, Muzamil Ibrahim, and petit Shonali Rosario blazing down the ramp in outfits by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, and Anju Modi, it's to the designers' credit that the people still oohed and aahed at the leather. But then, these are bags that are intended to make people look good. Even people who don't need much help.

"Bags are the biggest accessory now," says Dilip Kapur, president of Hidesign, "People are spending more money on bags than they ever did before. More than on shoes or even jewellery." In fact, a recent survey by the brand discovered that women in America buy an average of 22 bags a year, while Indian women buy an average of 6. And these aren't just bags meant for beetroots, or bifocals. "These are bags that flatter you," grins Dilip, "The cross body bags, for instance, are designed to lie flat against you... otherwise, bulky bags just make you look like a big fat slob!"

If the thought makes you wake up screaming in cold sweat, you might be interested in this collection, rich in detail and lean lines. Clearly influenced by their latest coup, Milan-based designer Alberto Ciaschini (former stylist for Giorgio Armani, Loewe and Palda Frani), the bags have an international look and feel. And they also seem to be inching away from Hidesign's original bastion: straight-laced, formal and traditional.

Now there are bright colours and daring man bags. Some so daring, in fact, that you wonder whether the even the sarong swathed, nail-polish wearing David Beckham would draw the line at carrying them. But as far as Hidesign goes, "the square black bag market is over."

Ironically, women's bags are the biggest inspiration for men's bags. While Dilip does admit that few Indian men will be seen toting blue, yellow or white bags, there are men now brave enough to experiment with different styles. This season sees more of the popular sleek cross body bags, now called document carriers and brandished by young yuppies, who can still wear jeans to work. For the pin-striped suits, there are more traditional shapes, with details like raised surfaces, fine stitching along the sides, leather buckles and metal zips to make them interesting. And if you're truly brave, you can swing their rectangular, astonishingly girly shopper bag, which is apparently now big in Japan.

For women, on the other hand, colour is so important now that there are entire lines dedicated to white, coral and a dizzy blue — the season's hottest shades. They come in a variety of shapes (from pill shaped to boxy), with intensive — sometimes over intensive — detailing: loops, buckles, knots, bright stitching and surfaces raised in the shapes of circles and straps. Hidesign's new party collection has those short grab handles and tiny shapes indispensable to stilettos. And for everyday and work wear, the bags are large, roomy and stylish, with buckles and studs in an attention-grabbing bohemian-meets-banker kind of way. The collection also features well-tailored jackets that are scrubbed, dip dyed and stone washed, since leather now is going the denim way.

And there's luggage, though it's difficult to imagine any of these pristine whites being dragged through a railway station, or even Indian airport car park. Which probably explains why Dilip sees "Indian businessmen carrying the most hideous, ugly bags that exist." He promises his bags, on the other hand, "will make you look beautiful."

SHONALI MUTHALALY

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