It was a show with a great difference. 21st century technology and three top fashion labels came together with three clusters at the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2018 to celebrate a grand fashion fusion at Mumbai, on 23rd August 2018.
After its first exhibit at Lakmé Fashion Week earlier this year, Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) collaborated with three fashion designers who shared their concepts with weavers who, in turn, translated them on to the warp and weft.
“DEF has been working in the space digital interventions in the handloom sector for almost a decade now. In these 10 years, we’ve seen barely ‘educated’ youth designing patterns for some of the finest saris on CAD/CAM, we’ve seen weavers earning their rightful profits though sales via E-commerce portals, and we’ve seen women promoting their products via social media. In the times that we’re living in, it’s extremely integral that our artisans, too, are digitally enabled to leverage the benefits of computers and the Internet,” said DEF Founder-Director, Osama Manzar.
The label ‘Three’ by Pallavi Dhyani visualized with the weavers of Barabanki was a relaxed line of comfort wear called “Mute”. The clothes had a marked minimal look that has been the label’s characteristic trademark. Using 100 per cent handloom cotton, Pallavi gave the weaves an appealing contemporary touch.
Working with the famed Ikat of Odisha, the Indigene label used the motifs and amalgamated them into the garments inspired by the different regions of the globe. Staying true to mostly geometric patterns inspired by the counted thread embroidery of that region, the silhouettes were regal in shape and form.
Believing in zero wastage, Indigene made use of textile leftovers and turned them into patchwork scarves as well as buttons and tassels for the garments.
Turning the very traditional weaves into western silhouettes, Naushad offered cropped wide pants with checked tops under double-breasted, short, tie-up blouses. The checked kimono style coats with oval lapels was ideal for cooler climes, while the paneled, medium checked, empire line, cross over, midi had immense comfort possibilities. The basic shirt made an appearance worn with a fluid skirt, while the checked shift dress and knee length trench coat like garment had a basic shirt collar as the focal point.