A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena
A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena

Friday evening will see the India Bridal Fashion Week kick-off in a grand way at the JW Marriott hotel in Mumbai. The line up of shows over the week will include those by star designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Neeta Lulla and Rohit Bal.

Among the other names on the impressive list of designers that will showcase their bridal and trousseau wear are sisters Ashima and Leena Singh.

The Delhi based duo take inspiration from the city of Old Delhi and have called their collection, Aalap.

Says the duo, “Our collection for India Bridal Fashion Week seeks to celebrate an esoteric romance. Through our interpretation, we aspire to reflect a poetic flow in volume, layers and impeccable garment construction.”

A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena
A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena
A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena
A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena

Ashima and Lina have used the classic pietra-dura (the technique of inlaying semi-precious stones) as an embroidery motif on shades of burnished gold and carnelian, while reinvented gota-patti work is combined with rich jewel tones of ruby and jade.

And if that’s not enough ornamentation, the designers have incorporated classic meenakari designs on gilded tulle and especially created textiles that are handcrafted with brocade.

As for the silhouettes, look out for ingeniously stitched dhoti-pants that transform into a sari, cleverly overlapped sheers, long coats that can be worn over any Indian silhouette and saris and lehengas stitched and draped in innovative styles.

A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena
A bridal ensemble by Ashima and Leena

Restricting their colour palette to bright jewel tones set against copper or black, the collection comes alive in dazzling hues of emerald green, sapphire blue, amethyst purple and citrine orange.

Look out for Ashima and Leena’s show on Monday, December 2nd, 2013 at 7:30pm.