The lights dim, the crowd’s excitement is thrumming and the runway illuminates amid anticipation of a stunning spectrum of diversely eclectic clothing. On Friday May 27, National Institute of Fashion Technology-Hyderabad had its annual graduate show Fashionova where the Class of 2017 showed off their lifeblood collections.
From mod silhouettes to classic pieces re-invented, NIFT grads made sure their legacy was woven into the tapestry of the prestigious institution. The recurrent ethos of each collection looked to be ‘strength,’ proving the design hopefuls have no desire to take a break but instead ignite their career and take the fashion-sphere by storm.
As the models swanked down the runway, it was clear the inspirations were endless- feminine mystique, the working class, marine life, all lithely cut. Popularly used were alternative fabrics such as raw silk, nets, kalamkari, laces and satin, giving the apparel that ‘as-if-angels-just-threw-them-on’ aesthetic.
Standout collections
A particularly popular menswear line was by Shreyashee, who talked about her collection heaving with rebellious vibes through rugged silhouettes and flowing fabrics of long sherwani jackets with angrakha, kurtas and dhoti pants accented by metal and beaded accessories. She shares, “I was born and brought up in Bokaro, where there are coal mines, and coal mafias too who used to steal coal in the night, only for their survival. And in conjunction with that, the story of Aladdin and Ali Baba, who stole gold for his survival. At first, this collection was very street-style, but it felt too casual for something so meaningful to me. So I transformed it all to Bedouin and Banjara or Indian/Arabic fusion.”
Another mesmerising menswear collection was Nayan’s line which draws on bio-luminescent sea life. These consisted of stylish streetstyle pieces with statement graphic prints. The collection spoke for itself and is one a lot of beholders immediately wanted for their own closets. The effortless and cool cuts of the line made for a collection Drakehimself would sport.
HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, 26-05-2017: Model wearing outfits created by NIFT students during the NIFT's Fashionova Class of 2017 Fashion Show in Hyderabad. Photo: K.V.S. Giri
Anusha presented a collection inspired by wrapping materials. The intensely structured line’s showstealer was a satin indigo cropped jacket with outrageous sleeves- a garment fit for any fashion week. Anusha shares she was particularly proud of the piece which elicited plenty of murmurs of approval from the crowd when it shimmered under the spotlight.
Fairytale and nature-inspired pieces from Ankita’s petal-heavy collection featured a showstopper gown with undulating waves of ruffles in iridescent shades of pink that had every jaw in the room on the floor. The movement of the dress had a princess-feel, inciting some serious Cannes FOMO.
A spot of impressive glamour came about through another glittering collection inspired by starlight. The ivory and cream tones of the city-chic jumpsuits and gowns allowed for the careful stonework appliqué to take centre stage. Tailoring was a key component here, proving that being bedazzled doesn’t make a garment any less classy.
While the best of the best showed careful thought to structure and innovation, it was clear where areas of improvement were needed in fine-tune tailoring. The wonderful things about grad shows is that they brim with the essences of the designers themselves; it’s not about making something for the people, it’s more about putting all their emotion, mental energy and physical labour into a line that reflects who they are — a trait that some of the most famed designers today even lack.
