Ruchika Sachdeva, Eina Alhuwalia and Nupur Kanoi, are 3 designers I’m so glad I got to catch on day 4. There are many reasons that make their collection stand out- their brand’s identity, their quality products, their concepts and the people they are. All 3 are always happy to talk to you, always warm, and live their brand, which is why their collections were so well rounded.
Ruchika Sachdeva
The clothes themselves were a labor of love, with pleated peplums on fitted dresses, cut-outs in intriguing places and interesting panelling. From the video, we could see that Ruchika was inspired by geometry and cubism, which was seen in the minute pleating done as shoulder emphasis, the print and the shape of the skirts. The colours of this collection were a lot brighter than usual for bodice, with shades of mint green and creamy orange, paired with black and grey. We did notice that there was a lack of jackets in the collection; being that it’s a summer resort collection, we understand why she went light on the blazers. Though, she is known for having a wide selection of jackets (which are her calling), so we can’t wait to see them in her next autumn winter collection.
Each season she gets better, and this collection was a testament to that. If there is one criticism, and I mean this is the most constructive way possible, is that the designer could have edited out a few of the details on some of the garments, to make it simpler. Having said that, India still has only have a handful of designers who delve into androgyny and grunge/urban-esque clothing, so it’s good to see Ruchika really start to carve out a niche for herself.
Eina Alhuwalia
It’s probably no secret how much I love Eina Alhuwalia’s jewellery, I’ve been hounding her on FB, ever since her trip to Florence, about how excited I was to see what she was going to come up with next. Boy, I was not disappointed. The collection was called Forgotten Jewel; the first look was a giant egg with a small filigree door on it, which Rachel Bayros opened at head ramp, a sign that this was going to unfold into a spectacular collection.
What followed was beautifully delicate heart pendants, chunky gold rocks, the all-seeing eyes and carved doors. All these elements are the gateway to the inner gold, which we may have forgotten – that was the essence of the collection. My favorite pieces were the 3 eggs hanging on thick rope chains, and the rock gold formation, that was sculpted from a form and then applied onto the body with a glue. Jewellery has never been this intimate and as precious. It’s definitely a collection that Eina herself has hand done, and spent countless sleepless nights laboring over. Energy well spent Eina!
Nupur Kanoi
This was one collection I was truly surprised by; it was the first time Nupur was showcasing at Lakme, and the first time she’s done a collection of western wear. As soon as the first look walked out, it was like a breeze had floated by – light with easy on the eye colours of vibrant blues and whites and sober blacks. The Kundalini Project, as she calls it, was the inspiration behind the colours and the shapes in the cut-work and cord detailing. The mix of her ethnic wear background, with her own personal dressing sense, merged together to create a delightful collection. I met up with her after the show, and she was such a vivacious and infectious person to hang out with, that I felt sorry I hadn’t done it earlier or for longer. There is so much promise from this designer, which is why she’s definitely on our watch out list!