Men’s fashion is no longer a story of limited options. The collections reflect the mood of today’s man who sees clothes as a tool of self-expression. Rajvi Mohan’s Spring Summer line, showcased yesterday, was all about “having fun to the point that there are no restrictions, no bindings.” Says Rajvi, who designs only for men, “Don’t you wish you were on a holiday?my clothes were based on that feeling.”
Ravi Bajaj, who led the week with his “Dandy March”, shifted from the trademark classic look to something more indulgent. His repertoire included Jamavar trousers, velvet shirts, surface ornamentation, cashmere bandhgalas, paisley-print pants. “Be it fabrics, metallic leather, velvet shirts, silk kurtas, everything is going forward,” explains Bajaj.
David Abraham of Abraham and Thakore agrees, “There is a large category of non-corporate designing for an evening in which your corporate shirt won’t work but it would require more than a T-shirt. So we are looking at non-formal dressing which is more dressed up than earlier.” This evening Shantanunikhil brand will evoke the era of Alexander The Great. “It has our very strong signature style but also for the first time feminine appeal will bridge the gap with masculinity,” says Shantanu. The fashion extravaganza, feels Shantanu, encourages designers otherwise deterred by the dominance of women’s fashion, to experiment with men’s clothing. “Globally 70-75 per cent designers do women’s wear,” he says.
Ashish Soni, who is doing the finale with Rahul Khanna and Rohit Gandhi, says, “Menswear has come a long way. The fact that it is finally getting its due recognition with its own industry platform gives me tremendous happiness.”
His collection is a combination of luxury, intelligence and glamour. Pure monochromatic silhouettes, strict graphic? it again reminds one of the maturity men’s fashion is attaining.
